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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Floods cause humanitarian crisis in South Asia

Heavy monsoonal rains have triggered a humanitarian crisis in south asia. India is so far the worst hit with at least 2 million people reportedly displaced. Television reports showed Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh speaking to journalists following an aerial survey of flood affected regions with Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi. The floods are reported to be India's worst in half a century. BBC News reported that the Prime Minister has described the floods in Bihar as a 'national calamity' and released an aid package worth $ 230 million.

Other countries affected are Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The situation has worsened with initial relief efforts proving inadequate due to the large scale flooding of areas not normally prone to floods. The disaster followed a breach in the banks of the Kosi river which originates in Nepal and Tibet and flows down to the Ganges river in India. The Kosi river has reportedly shifted 120 km in the past 250 years.

Reports:

IFRC Information Bulletin August 14, 2008

UN Nepal Information Platform

Indian Red Cross Society Flood Situation Weekly Update

In Words

Loved and mentored by parents with values and discipline and a passion for good English; guided by teachers who wouldn't spare the rod to ensure excellence; copywriter; on-line journalist; editor-in-chief; and at long last, giving into the passion; Freelance Writer.

Nurtured in advertising and PR from freelance copywriter to account director and agency head; engaged throughout to humanitarian work in NGOs including the Red Cross and the UNDP; and experienced in both public and private sectors.

Looking forward to a future of writing on diverse subjects; sharing knowledge and experience; enriching the lives of others; but most of all, acquiring more knowledge and using it to make the world a better place for all.

More of my writing:
* Fuelling the Peace Process * Concepts for decentralisation of government * PEACE: Is it still an elusive dream? * Interview with the late Major General Trond Furuhovde first Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission * How polar bears are affected by global warming * Red Cross takes lead in clean water for Sri Lanka flood victims * The poorest hardest hit by Sri Lanka floods *