Caritas India helps flood victims in Assam and Bihar

Caritas India, the Catholic Church’s main charity organization is reaching out to the unreached areas of Bihar and Assam states affected by the recent floods. 

Fr. Frederick D’Souza, executive director of Caritas India said that the organization has allocated 50 million rupees (US$ 780,00) and is now handing out food, medicine an tents.  Volunteers are also setting up medical camps. 

In Bihar, Caritas has already provided aid worth 20 million rupees (US$ 310,000), but “We have a target of reaching altogether 50 million Indian Rupees and cover more people as the floods in Bihar is devastating,” Fr D’Souza said.

The executive director notes that Caritas has done a unique job of helping people of every faith with the goal of meeting the humanitarian needs of everyone.

Bishop Gerald Mathias of the diocese of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh said, his diocesan administration is fully involved in helping flood victims. The Bishop also offered his condolences to the relatives of the victims of August 19, railway accident in Muzaffarnagar (about 130 km from Delhi), in which 23 people were killed. "May the Lord grant eternal rest to the dead and speedy recovery to the injured,” he said.

The floods so far have claimed 153 lives in Bihar, 144 in Assam and 52 in north Bengal. In Uttar Pradesh, the state administration has sought the help of the army for the  rescue and relief operations. The worst hit district was Morigaon in Assam with 2,210 villages being submerged and 1.23 lakh hectares of crop becoming damaged as well.

Caritas India is addressing the emergent need of community by providing unconditional cash transfer of Rs. 2000 and WaSH kit including buckets, mug, NADCC tablets, Savlon anticeptic, Markin Cloth, cotton cloth, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Bathing and Washing soap, Soap Case to the affected population.

Considering the need of the community, Caritas India plans to support 93,920 population in Assam alone. The plan is to support 5000 households under WaSH, 1600 families with Cash Transfer, 3500 individuals under Health, 5000 households under shelter, 2500 households under livelihood and 3000 individuals with Psychosocial support. (AsiaNews,caritasindia)