-Save the Children launches US$ 2 million appeal for Bihar’s Children battling the floods

(27 August 2008) Over half a million children have been already affected by floods which are being termed as the Indian “Katrina.” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has declared a national emergency. These are the worst floods that the affected districts have seen in the last 52 years. 1,469,000 people in 1,081 villages across 13 districts in Bihar are currently are living on embankments and roads. 225,192 houses have been damaged and 57,411 people evacuated.

Without rapid intervention the worst is yet to come for these and many more children who likely to be submerged as the water will reach the adjoining districts.

"In our assessment, the need is enormous," said Thomas Chandy, CEO for Save the Children in India.

"We already have the systems in place to quickly source and deliver urgently needed relief supplies to children and their families. We are appealing to all concerned – especially Indians living here and across the globe – to help us go out and do it." Save the Children initially wants to target 10,000 families including 30,000 children with food aid, shelter, medical assistance and water purification.

Children remain vulnerable

Children are the most vulnerable and susceptible to diseases and exposure, which are prevalent in disaster situations. Food shortages affect children’s nutritional levels and weaken them. In Bihar the problem is exasperated as the state has the worst malnutrition, child mortality, maternal mortality and child trafficking indicators. Also, the levels of poverty, deprivation and social exclusion prevalent in the state are very high.

“During our flood response last year we found that the levels of children trafficked from the state increased in large numbers. Two of the affected districts Arraria and Katiyar according to our study have the highest instance of child trafficking. The current disaster will increase levels of poverty and desperation and create a favourable environment for traffickers,” said Thomas Chandy, CEO, for Save the Children.

“Save the Children will be working towards creating ‘safe spaces’ for children in the affected districts as we did last year in the flood affected areas of Bihar and Orissa."

Many districts, which lie in the exit path of the flood waters, will be affected by the flooding in the next few weeks. Hence, the urgent need for action and creation of alternate shelters.

Save the Children’s Response

• Food Aid (20 days rations. Per family- 15kg rice, 2kg dal, 1kg salt 1lt edible oil)
• Water Purification (bleaching powder, halogen / zeoline)
• Tarpaulins for shelter (10,000 sheets)
• Health Camps

How you can help

Save the Children is appealing to members of the public and international community to respond urgently by sending cheque/ draft / bank transfer made in the name Bal Raksha, Bharat: bank account No. 52205574986 Standard Chartered Bank, Sansad Marg Branch, H-2 Connaught Circus New Delhi or posted directly to Save the Children, 4th Floor Farm Bhawan, 14-15 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019.

More information

For more information and for interviews, please contact the Save the Children, media unit on:

Anuradha C. Maharishi, +91 9811626122 or Shireen Vakil Miller , +91 9811552920

Notes to Editors

A report by ASTEC and UNICEF for the Department of Women and Child Development found that approximately 2,500 children were trafficked in 2007 during the flood season
Save the Children, Bal Raksha, Bharat is an independent member of the International Save the Children Alliance.
We fight for children's rights and deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children's lives in India. Save the Children has existed in India since pre-independence days and is currently working in 11 states and union territories of India.
Our current priorities are increasing children's access to a quality education; protecting children from abuse , exploitation and neglect; working with children affected by HIV AIDS, and assisting children and their families being better prepared for emergencies and coping in their aftermath.
Save the Children fights for children’s rights. We deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children’s lives worldwide.
Save the Children has been working in India for the past 30 years.
Save the Children has been responding to different emergencies over the years. Our Team is on the ground responding to the situation in Bihar.
For more information about Save the Children, please visit the website: Save the Children India