EFICOR: Situation still 'pathetic' in flood-ravaged states

Heavy rains in South India have disrupted the normal life of thousands of people. A Christian relief agency providing aid to the people mainly in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh terms the situation still very 'pathetic'.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR) has been lately providing relief in Kurnool - one of the worst affected districts in Andhra Pradesh - where a total 195 villages with a population of approximately 585,000 have been affected.

"The situation in the affected villages is pathetic as one can see destruction of thousands of houses, death of livestock (which were once livelihood options for many families) and villages washed away," said the aid agency in a statement.

"Electricity has not been restored, schools are still to be reopened and availability of temporary shelters seem uncertain as many people are living in the fields and embankments," it lamented.

EFICOR is currently responding to the emergency situation joining in partnership with RAIDS (Rural Action in Development Society). After completing village and household level survey in six blocks of Kurnool district, the team has identified 4000 affected families as beneficiaries.

To assist the affected, the Christian agency initiated relief distribution in two phases. "In the first phase, the relief kits were distributed to 2,080 families in three blocks namely Velugodu, Kothapalli and C. Belgal. In the second phase, 2,370 families were selected in from three blocks namely Japadubanglow, Sunnipenta and Pogidala," explained the aid group.

The relief kits it has been distributing contains "rice (25kgs), Dal (3kgs), oil (2ltrs), salt (1kg), Dalia, biscuits, mat, clothes, and utensils." The distribution is almost compete and a special meeting is planned at Kurnool to mark the completion of the distribution on 13 November.

EFICOR has been closely working with the district administration especially the NGO coordination cell which was set up by the District Collector, Kurnool. The NGO coordination has been enabling the team to avoid duplication. "The support from the government officials, community and other leaders has been commendable," it said.

The floods in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have impacted more than 20 lakh people and claimed nearly 300 lives.

In Karnataka, the districts of Bijapur, Bagalkote, Raichur, Koppal and Gulbarga are the worst affected. In Bijapur alone 10,000 people have been left homeless.