Death toll rises, millions affected by monsoon floods

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

World Vision is responding to devastating floods in India and Myanmar that have left a trail of destruction, with scores of people killed, an estimated 8 million people affected and tens of thousands of children in need of urgent support.

World Vision Australia head of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Anthea Spinks said the deadly monsoon rains were taking a dreadful toll in loss of life and livelihood.

“Our biggest concern is to make sure that those most impacted, and particularly vulnerable children, are receiving the urgent support they need,” Ms Sprinks said. “Children are always the most vulnerable during natural disasters and it is heartbreaking that children are already reported among the dead.”

In India, at least 180 people have been killed by flood waters and an estimated one million people have been forced into relief shelter. Massive flooding and numerous landslides in West Bengal, Odisha, Manipur and Gujarat have affected more than 8 million people in more than 10,000 villages. Crops, houses, roads, and bridges have been destroyed.

World Vision India is responding with immediate relief, livelihood and shelter assistance, and is appealing for funding of US$10 million to support both immediate relief and recovery. World Vision India supports more than 17,000 sponsored children in affected areas.

In Myanmar, 40 people are reported to have been killed and nearly 172,000 people have been affected by relentless monsoon rains that have swept across homes, farmlands and infrastructure.

With thousands of people sheltering from rising floodwaters in monasteries, the Myanmar government has declared a state of emergency in several states and regions.

Win Zin Oo, World Vision Myanmar’s Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs director, said increased flooding was expected to flow through into lower Myanmar in coming weeks.

Torrential rain has been falling since July and worsened late last week as Cyclone Komen made landfall in coastal Bangladesh, causing flash floods and landslides in different parts of the northwestern regions and states in Myanmar, and Bengal in India.

World Vision has worked in India since 1951 and in Myanmar since 1991, with programs spanning education, health, agriculture, livelihoods and child protection.

For interviews, contact: Stuart Rintoul, on 0407 241 492
To donate to the World Vision Disaster Ready fund please go to worldvision.com.au

Media Releases, Asia and the Pacific, Anthea Spinks, Flood, India, Myanmar

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