Myanmar
More than one million people have been affected by severe flooding in Myanmar since the end of June, 2015. Over 15,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 122,000 families remain displaced.
Cyclone Komen caused widespread destruction and many IDP camps – where over a hundred thousand who were displaced by conflict have been living for the last three years – have suffered hugely. Their shelters, latrines, water points, bathing facilities, solar panels, and schools were either destroyed or damaged.
Priority humanitarian needs are food, shelter, access to health care, safe water, sanitation, protection, and psychological help.
Priority humanitarian needs are food, shelter, access to health care, safe water, sanitation, protection, and psychological help.
Three IDP camps in Sittwe – 1,247 households (6,655 people) affected by Cyclone Komen – will receive food assistance as well as water and sanitation assistance (WASH). The WASH infrastructure in the camps must be restored to prevent diarrhea and disease. Specifically, 293 latrines, 10 waste collection points, 5 water points, and 8 bathing spaces require full rehabilitation. The roof of a training center is to be repaired and a solar light system installed.
The staff members of World Renew’s partner ZOA and the consortium of which they are a part also require assistance to meet their own basic needs, especially because local food prices have sky-rocketed. Funds are also required to acquire materials to rehabilitate their latrines and other sanitation infrastructure.
India
Five states in India have been affected by monsoon flooding. More than 100 people have been killed tens of thousands forced to take shelter in relief camps.
Grace Wiebe, Senior Project Manager for World Renew International Disaster Response, explains: “The flood situation in Rajasthan and West Bengal continues to be the most critical as the state governments have not responded to all impacted by the flood. World Renew is focusing its efforts in these areas. The response by state governments and other NGOs has been strong, so World Renew is focusing on these two states where more support is needed. World Renew and EFICOR will be providing emergency food assistance to 4,000 families in Rajasthan and 2,000 families in West Bengal, through its partnership in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Please pray for the staff and those who have been impacted by the extreme flooding.”
Rain in Rajasthan persists even now, so staff and volunteers have to brave flood waters to reach the villages they are surveying. Family packages are being assembled for distribution.
In West Bengal many farmers lost their crops to the flood. Weavers are also unable to work, due to their looms being damaged by the water and mud. The EFICOR team here is identifying vendors and collecting quotations for non-food procurements whilst coordinating with other relief agencies who are responding, to avoid duplication.
Through its partner NEICORD, World Renew is also assisting 500 families with water and sanitation services.
Please pray for that World Renew’s response is effective and for the safety of staff.
Will you help World Renew respond to Asia flooding today?
Donate online
(select "Asia Floods" from the Disasters – International category)
Or mail your check, marked “Asia Floods 2015,
World Renew US
1700 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Tel: 1-616-224-0740
World Renew Canada
3475 Mainway
PO Box 5070 STN LCD
Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8
Tel: 1-800-730-3490
PHOTO TOP: Rohingya children pass their time in a damaged shelter at Rohingya IDP camp outside Sittwe, Rakhine state August 4, 2015. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun