South Asia Floods

Images of flood damage and relief work being carried out by MH:

Cyclones and flash flooding across Pakistan together with heavy monsoon rains in India, Nepal and Bangladesh have left hundreds of people dead and many millions more homeless and displaced. Indeed, the current flooding represents some of the worst in living memory with the misery likely to continue for many months to come.

Responding to the Crisis

As in many parts of the world, heavy rains spell disaster for vast swathes of South Asia. A combination of poor quality mud housing, piecemeal infrastructure and dependence on the land makes millions' entire livelihood vulnerable to being washed away with flood waters. Moreover, flooding inevitably sweeps away many roads and bridges making aid distribution all the more difficult.

Aware of this and with extensive past experience dealing with flood disasters, MH teams across South Asia mobilised immediately and began preparations to assist those displaced and made homeless. Aid distribution is taking place in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India with efforts being closely coordinated with the local Administration or Relief Coordinator's Office to ensure that aid is targeted most effectively.

Pakistan

In response to the crisis MH Pakistan set-up a number of aid distribution centres. Here staff and volunteers prepare ration packs designed to sustain a family of five for fifteen days. Once packaged these are then transported for distribution, either via truck or in certain circumstances via airlift assistance from the Pakistan Air Force. Depending on the need in an area distribution quantities vary from just 100 families up to 1,000 or more.

Inevitably some areas are well served by government or neighbours' relief efforts whilst others are less well assisted. MH Pakistan has focused its efforts on helping those most vulnerable and who would otherwise have been left to fend for themselves.

Some of the areas where aid has been distributed are: District Badin, Shahdadkote, District Kanbar, Village Luth, Union Council Rehri, Bin Qasim Town and District Thatha.

In addition to aid distribution a number of camps have been established to provide emergency shelter to those who've seen their homes washed away with the flood waters. Medical care is provided within the camps to combat the risk of disease spreading and increasing the death toll. Assistance is also extended to those who are attempting to rebuild their homes in areas where the flood waters are receding.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the worst hit countries with some two-thirds of the land believed to be underwater.

MH Bangladesh has sent teams to Dhaka and District Sirajgonj which is one of the worst affected areas and has begun preparations to deal with further flooding and more wide scale aid distribution. Preparations are also under way to implement the Flood Rehabilitation Programme helping those affected meet the cost of rebuilding their homes and businesses.

Afghanistan

Flooding in Afghanistan has received scant media attention, yet MH teams have been working on the ground to assist those affected and to distribute aid.

India

The flooding in India has left 12 million people stranded or homeless in the northern states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. In the worst-affected areas, some villages have been submerged beneath 6ft of water and residents left waiting on rooftops for over a week.

Muslim Hands has a long history of work in Assam and our field office in the region has been working to help those affected both in the short and long term.

Top of page