EU to aid flood victims in India, Bangladesh

London, Oct 31: The European Commission has adopted a four million Euro decision in emergency humanitarian aid for victims of floods in India and Bangladesh.

Food and shelter, water/sanitation and livelihood rehabilitation interventions will be provided through this funding for the most vulnerable people living in rural regions in southwest Bangladesh and urban and rural areas in India. Funds are channelled through the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.

The 2006 monsoon season in India and Bangladesh began in June and by the end of July, a serious flooding situation had developed in southwest Bangladesh and districts in western and eastern India.

Damage from the floods includes loss of standing crops, serious erosion of farmland and property, destruction of livestock, food and tools, as well as the contamination of surface water supplies, open wells, tube wells and latrines.

In September, 500,000 people in India were living in emergency makeshift shelters and public buildings, while in Bangladesh 3,000 families were living in such shelters and up to 15,000 families were in need of emergency shelter support.

This emergency decision will provide the most vulnerable people living in the flooded areas with the supply of food, shelter, water/sanitation facilities, as well as assistance in the recovery of livelihoods and in the rehabilitation of damaged housing. Medical support will be provided, together with hygiene education and water purification to help avoid disease outbreaks from contaminated water supplies.

Projects will be implemented through the Commission's operational partners already present in the targeted districts, such as NGOs, UN agencies and the Red Cross. The European Commission Humanitarian Aid department will continue to monitor the evolving flooding situation and will adapt the programme accordingly.

UNI