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A human tragedy of unparalleled dimensions has unleashed itself on millions residing in the 7 North Bihar Districts of Supaul, Araria, Madhepura, Saharsa, Purnia, Khagaria and Katihar due to a breach in the in the eastern Kosi embankment upstream of the Indian border at Kushaha in neighbouring Nepal on the 18th of August, 2008. Following the breach, River Kosi, often referred to as the sorrow of Bihar, picked up a channel it had abandoned over 200 years ago, drowning towns and numerous villages coming in the way of its newly acquired course, affecting more than 2 million people. . Apart from loss of land, crops and homes, close to a million find themselves marooned. With the river flowing through its new found course as a miles-wide stream to the Ganga, over almost 100km south; lakhs of people have been caught unawares. Officials here say it’s a catastrophe unlike annual floods. Though for the time being evacuation assumes paramount significance, much worse lies in wait for those rescued as many of them have scarce chances of returning to their original habitation which has been devoured by the new course of Kosi. Even if government assertions of plugging the breach and restoring the river to its pre-breach channel are to be believed, it still entails a minimum wait time of 8 to 9 months for them. Displaced and shorn of all assets, these people require the support of all concerned to get their life back on the rails. The tragedy is too colossal to be left alone to the mercy of the state. Despite its best intentions and efforts, the enormity of the task places it beyond the resources the state government has at its command. We, at SSVK have had a long standing organizational presence in the affected districts of Supaul, Araria,Saharsa,Purnia, Khagaria and Madhepura.In this hour of crisis, we look upon the need of our intervention as a moral imperative. Hence, we appeal to all concerned to contribute in whatever way they can. Most urgently, the food, clothing, shelter, drinking water and health needs of these halpless victims need to be addressed. So for the time being you could contribute in forms which address these needs. Contributions are welcome in cash or kind. We assure you of utmost transparency and accountability in making use of your contributions. Bihar Floods – An Appeal for Logistical Support by Samajik Shaikshanik Vikas Kendra (SSVK) Floods, unprecedented in the past 50 years have struck North Bihar. Worse still, they have primarily hit areas which were rated as relatively secure. The nature of crisis adds another tragic dimension as it has been precipitated by a change in the course of River Kosi which, following a breach in its eastern embankment, picked up a channel it had abandoned over 200 years ago, drowning towns and numerous villages coming in the way of its newly acquired course, affecting more than 2 million people. Apart from loss of land, crops and homes, more than a million find themselves marooned. With the river flowing through its new found course as a miles-wide stream to the Ganga, over almost 100km south; lakhs of people have been caught unawares. Though fifteen days have passed since the breach occurred, lakhs remain marooned and the rampaging waters continue maintaining their devastating spread. Though for the time being evacuation assumes paramount significance, much worse lies in wait for those rescued as many of them have scarce chances of returning to their original habitation which has been devoured by the new course of Kosi. Even if government assertions of plugging the breach and restoring the river to its pre-breach channel are to be believed, it still entails a minimum wait time of 8 to 9 months for them. Displaced and shorn of all assets, these people require the support of all concerned to get their life back on the rails. The tragedy is too colossal to be left alone to the mercy of the state. Despite its best intentions and efforts, the enormity of the task places it beyond the resources the state government has at its command. Given this context, Samajik Shaikshanik Vikas Kendra (SSVK), in light of its 22 years of experience in running relief and rehabilitation programmes, has prioritized for itself the need to intervene in four of the worst affected districts namely Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura and Araria. Having already gone in appeal for resource mobilisation, both short term and long term, for the flood affected, logistics of coordinating and managing operations on such a scale is perceived as a constraint area by us. The scale of operations places an exceptional demand on mobility which, unless backed by adequate vehicular support, would adversely impact the relief and rehabilitation initiatives. We deem the following vehicular support as critical for the successful carriage of our operations.
While not flinching from putting in resources specifically directed at the flood victims, most of the donors are a little wary of putting resources beyond a limited extent into logistical support and there too for recurring costs and not for capital costs. Hence, this appeal is specifically directed at those donors, who are willing to extend support on this count. Our assurance is value added work for the support we get from them. You can send the DD / Cheque also in favour of Samajik Shaikshanik Vikas Kendra (Payable at Jhanjharpur) and Contributions in cash from within India may kindly be made in the following Account:
All Foreign Contributions need to be necessarily made in the following Account:
Those wishing to contribute in kind from Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi may kindly do so through the organisation `GOONJ‘. For details on contacting `GOONJ’, kindly visit them at their web site: ww.goonj.org , or e-mail:anshugoonj24@gmail.com, anshu_goonj1@yahoo.co.in For further details and clarifications, kindly contact us at the following:
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