Christian Aid helping flood victims in India, Bangladesh and China

Christian Aid is supporting partner organisations in India, Bangladesh and China to help communities cope with the floods and extreme weather have seriously effected more than 1 crore people.

This year's floods in Bangladesh came earlier than usual and are the most damaging in 15 years. Three quarters of the country is under water, 30 million people are seriously affected and the death toll stands at over 600. Hundreds of millions of US dollars' worth of damage had been done to crops, livestock, fisheries and infrastructure.

Epidemics of dengue fever, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases are affecting tens of thousands of people, and women are struggling to keep children safe and well.

Eight partner organisations are working on a coordinated effort, led by the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh, to supply emergency food, water sterilising tablets and oral rehydration salts to counter the effects of diarrhoea, which is responsible for the largest number of deaths.

Severe food shortages are a big concern. Many farmers have lost their summer harvest and the rice seedlings they should now be planting for a winter harvest; they will need seeds and tools to replant crops as soon as possible. Partner organisation UBINIG reports its Seed Wealth Centres, which help communities save local seed varieties, are on standby to help.

Partners are planning post–flood rehabilitation work, but although several locations report a fall in water levels, high tides and more rain forecast may mean the situation will worsen again and that emergency work may have to continue for several weeks.

Once the floods have receded, people will need help to rebuild homes and repair damaged infrastructure such as schools, wells and embankments. Many people have lost assets such as livestock. Day–labourers have been without work, and small businesses such as weavers have lost equipment and markets.