|PIC3|The mission group has joined Christian aid agencies in bringing relief to the regions where an estimated 200,000 people have been displaced and around thousands of homes rendered uninhabitable. Around 220 relief camps have been set up to house the flood victims.

“These people have lost all their livestock, lost their farms, lost their businesses. There is nothing left for them. Just trying to survive is the greatest thing right now,” said Punos.

He remained optimistic, however, about meeting the needs of survivors.
“God has placed us right in the middle where this flooding is taking place, which gives us the greatest opportunity to help.”

Churches are responding to the disaster despite some of them being affected by the flooding, he added.

"A lot of the aid and help that is going out is from the local churches that are right there. Some of our local churches are under water right now, but the pastors and believers are the ones who are doing the greatest aid now,” he said.

“It is always connected back to the local church. We'll be there even after everyone leaves."

Christian Aid agency Tearfund said more than 300 people had died in the flooding and that survivors were facing homelessness and hunger.

“The two southern states are now battling the fury of the worst flood in 100 years,” said Sajeev Bhanja, from Tearfund partner Eficor.

Tearfund said limited international coverage of the floods had hampered fundraising and donations for relief efforts.

Eficor is assembling aid, including food and items like cooking utensils, blankets and bedding, for 10,000 families in the two districts.

Tearfund added that most of those affected by the floods were rural, poor and marginalised people from low castes.

“Our partner's efforts are being supplemented by local churches which are providing practical help where they can as well as making volunteers available,” a spokesperson for the aid agency said.