Information on “Flood Relief” -Plan Intervention in Bihar

Forwarded to the Portal by: Avijit Dey, Plan International The following is a report on Plan International's current intervention in the Bihar Flood Situation. The report was received on 12th September 2008.

Name of Organisation: Plan India

Plan’s India’s Response:

Plan India has started a limited and focused response operation to the Bihar flood situation in Supaul district ,Triveniganj Block Dafarka Canal an isolated and cutoff population of around 40000 people who are living in an embankment and are yet unreached by either government or civil society. Plan has already dispatched 10 lakh halazone tablets, 650 kilograms of carbolic acid [to prevent snake and insect bites], 2.5 tons of bleaching powder and 20 life jackets. Plan has raised 25000 soaps through corporate donations and the consignment will be sent early next week. Plan India staff have contributed one day of their wage to the response operations. A lot of effort is also being put in to raise funds through local sources.

On the ground, the interventions are planned through 3-5 Camps sites in three districts with local NGO partnership:

• Supaul District which is badly impacted with 15 of 18 blocks under water where we intend to reach 4000 people initially and scale up to 6000 people.
• Madhepura district Block Alam Nagar 2500 people and scale up to about 4000.
• Saharsa, Block Sonbarsa, approximate 3000 people.

At the Camp Sites

• People are crowded in camps on high ground in community buildings and road sides.
• Health needs are not adequately being met
• Stagnant water is creating difficulties in access.
• There is some distribution of plastic sheeting.
• People are living in close proximity with there animals.
• There is no electricity and inadequate light through candles is creating difficulties.
• No privacy for women.
• No safe spaces for children.

Water and Sanitation:

• Water sources are few and hand pumps far in between.
• People are drinking contaminated water.
• Provision of safe water is an urgent need.
• Widespread open air defecation.
• No solid waste management.
• No vector control.

Child Protection

• No protected space available.
• Two cases of trafficking attempts in Supaul District Child prevented by Kopal partner Mandan Bharati rescued children are handed over to there families.
• This area has been in the news for trafficking through the Indo Nepal border.

Livelihood:

• Livelihoods completely destroyed. Calculations not yet arrived at by the government.
• Since people are still in high places they have not been able to assess there damage.
• Some livestock has been rescued but there is lack of fodder.

Food:

• Food insecurity at household level is quite high.
• People’s own stocks are running out and community kitchens are inadequate / do not reach all.

In many relief camps, host populations, including youth groups, local NGOs and trade associations, are distributing both cooked food and ready to eat meals. The Plan’s emergency response is planned in three phases:

PHASE I Meeting basic needs [has been initiated]

• Setting up of child protection committees./Happy sad boxes
• Provision of cooked food for a week and dry rations for a month.
• Tarpaulins for shelter. • Setting up of child friendly spaces.
• Supply of Bleaching powder and Halogen tablets.

PHASE 2 [will be initiated by next week]

• Construction of temporary toilets.
• Distribution of hygiene and family kits.
• Identifying reconstruction needs and priorities.

PHASE 3 [will be initiated and implemented from 3rd month onwards]

• Designing an intervention plan around trafficking and protection/ UBR.
• Designing intervention plan around reconstruction of livelihoods.
• Designing a child centered DRR intervention.

List of materials/ services needed:

We will also be disbursing kits which will be as follows:

Family Kit: (10000 in no.)

Individual Hygiene Kit: (10,000 in no.

Food & Drinking Water Support
Dry Ration
Potable Drinking Water Support

Restoration Support
Reconstruction of Houses, Toilets, Schools and Community Centres

Note-This is our total requirement as off now; you can opt and give the above mentioned individual items. Collection points:

Our Delhi Office Address;

Plan India
E-12, Kailash Colony
New Delhi-110048
Tel-46558484
Mobile- 9810694847 (Avijit Dey)

Our Patna Office Address;

Mr. Akash
Cluster PU Manager-Patna
Plan International
Poorvi Boaring Cannal Road
Vishnu Place; Raaiji Ki Gali
Patna
Tel:3262008
Mobile-9431813372

Simple ways to send us your contribution:

• Through post/courier: Send us a cheque/DD made in favour of Plan International (India Chapter) on the below mentioned address:

Donor Services
Plan India,
E-12, Kailash Colony,
New Delhi- 110048,
Phone-91-11 46558484 ext.431/433

Please do not forget to mention “Towards flood relief in Bihar” on the envelope.

• Online: You can click on the link below to logon to our website and contribute.

http://www.planindia.org/donate.aspx

Any other information:

Some of the initial reports from the area are:

Shelter: Most of the displaced people are living on the roads, bridges and railway tracks (which are generally at a higher level) and other higher areas mostly without any shelter and other basic needs.

Health: Essential medicines distributed by the Government of Bihar have reached only some of the more accessible relief camps and other affected populations. Large parts of the flood affected areas are still inaccessible because of the flowing water and lack of boats. Also, there is a lack of doctors in many of these areas.

Food and Nutrition: The state government is air dropping food packets in inundated villages. In many relief camps, host populations, including youth groups, local NGOs and trade associations, are distributing both cooked food and ready to eat meals.

Water and Sanitation: In most of the relief camps, drinking water is available through hand pumps. However, additional pumps are needed because of the scale of the crisis. Hygiene conditions are generally very poor with an insufficient number of toilets, resulting in open defecation. Cases of fever and diarrhoea are being reported. Given the scorching heat, unsafe drinking water and poor hygiene conditions, cases may soon increase.

Download the Report as a .doc file here: Plan Intervention in Bihar