Unusually long and heavy monsoon rains have inundated several parts of India and claimed at least 537 lives as church agencies and others reach out to help some two million people affected by floods. As the monsoon spreads to other states, rains are expected to weaken in Kerala. But downpours continued to lash the coastal state even on July 31, with several of its small rivers in spate and the Idukki Dam near capacity.
Teams of church people are working to provide immediate relief to flood-affected people, said Anjan Bag, who manages disaster intervention at Caritas India. The church agency has already supported 3,700 families with kits providing drinking water, sanitation and hygiene products. It has also provided food kits for 1,400 families in Assam.
A food kit can feed a family of four for 20 days and includes rice, pulses, salt, cooking oil, soybean and biscuits. The hygiene kit includes two plastic buckets, a plastic mug, antiseptics, bathing soap, washing soap, disinfection tablets, sanitary pads, toothpaste, toothbrushes, cloths and two double mosquito nets for a family of four. All 32 Catholic dioceses in Kerala have been involved in rescue and relief operations.
Source: www.ucanews.com
