ID :
36710
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 16:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/36710
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MERCY DONATES BLANKETS, MEDICINES TO BIHAR FLOOD VICTIMS
By P. Vijian
PATNA, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- Mercy Malaysia, which is conducting a post-disaster relief programme in the worst flood-hit districts in the north Indian state of Bihar, donated 500 blankets to helpless victims to face the chilling winter.
Last August, Bihar suffered one of the worst humanitarian crisis when the
Kosi river detoured from its normal course after embankment collapsed in Nepal
and swept away large swaths of land -- destroying homes and livelihoods of
millions of people.
More than 400 people were reported dead, according to official data, though
death toll could be double say aid workers.
Among the worst affected areas were Madhepura, Supaul and Saharsa.
With biting north Indian winter continue to threaten the region, thousands
of homeless and sickly elders, women and children huddle in self-made juts or
bamboo huts along fragile riverbanks, with little to eat as crops and cattle,
their main source of food, were washed away by the ferocious floods.
"Although Mercy Malaysia's focus is mainly on primary healthcare, this is
an
ad-hoc project which we need to do quickly.
"As winter is approaching, there is a great need for blankets, so we came
out with an action plan to give away blankets to the tribal group here," Elliane
Arriany Mustapha, Mercy's programme officer who is spearheading the relief
project in Bihar, told Bernama.
Malaysia's Deputy High Commissioner to India Norlin Othman distributed the
blankets on Wednesday to the tribal community, mostly poor farmers and
labourers, in Raghunathpur village, located about 400km from Patna city, Bihar's
capital.
"We are very sorry for what happened to you, you have suffered a terrible
disaster. We are here with Mercy Malaysia to give a little help to rebuild your
lives," Norlin said.
In addition, Mercy is also conducting two mobile clinics and a static
medical center, fully-funded by the organisation itself, to assist flood victims
in these areas where healthcare facilities are limited.
"Our aim is to cover 120 villages in three months, basically to provide
primary healthcare. There is an urgent need for primary healthcare here as
government hospitals are far away and there is limited supply of
medicine.
"On average we are treating 600 patients a day in our three clinics and
each
clinic is supported by two doctors and a pharmacist," said Elliane.
The medical team, supported by a Malaysian doctor and India-based "Doctors
For You", a voluntary organisation comprising young doctors, travel miles on
rickety boats daily to reach the remote isolated villages to treat
patients.
Mercy is the only foreign agency currently working in the flood-ravaged
areas, offering medical assistance to the people in Madhepura, Supaul and
Saharsa.
PATNA, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- Mercy Malaysia, which is conducting a post-disaster relief programme in the worst flood-hit districts in the north Indian state of Bihar, donated 500 blankets to helpless victims to face the chilling winter.
Last August, Bihar suffered one of the worst humanitarian crisis when the
Kosi river detoured from its normal course after embankment collapsed in Nepal
and swept away large swaths of land -- destroying homes and livelihoods of
millions of people.
More than 400 people were reported dead, according to official data, though
death toll could be double say aid workers.
Among the worst affected areas were Madhepura, Supaul and Saharsa.
With biting north Indian winter continue to threaten the region, thousands
of homeless and sickly elders, women and children huddle in self-made juts or
bamboo huts along fragile riverbanks, with little to eat as crops and cattle,
their main source of food, were washed away by the ferocious floods.
"Although Mercy Malaysia's focus is mainly on primary healthcare, this is
an
ad-hoc project which we need to do quickly.
"As winter is approaching, there is a great need for blankets, so we came
out with an action plan to give away blankets to the tribal group here," Elliane
Arriany Mustapha, Mercy's programme officer who is spearheading the relief
project in Bihar, told Bernama.
Malaysia's Deputy High Commissioner to India Norlin Othman distributed the
blankets on Wednesday to the tribal community, mostly poor farmers and
labourers, in Raghunathpur village, located about 400km from Patna city, Bihar's
capital.
"We are very sorry for what happened to you, you have suffered a terrible
disaster. We are here with Mercy Malaysia to give a little help to rebuild your
lives," Norlin said.
In addition, Mercy is also conducting two mobile clinics and a static
medical center, fully-funded by the organisation itself, to assist flood victims
in these areas where healthcare facilities are limited.
"Our aim is to cover 120 villages in three months, basically to provide
primary healthcare. There is an urgent need for primary healthcare here as
government hospitals are far away and there is limited supply of
medicine.
"On average we are treating 600 patients a day in our three clinics and
each
clinic is supported by two doctors and a pharmacist," said Elliane.
The medical team, supported by a Malaysian doctor and India-based "Doctors
For You", a voluntary organisation comprising young doctors, travel miles on
rickety boats daily to reach the remote isolated villages to treat
patients.
Mercy is the only foreign agency currently working in the flood-ravaged
areas, offering medical assistance to the people in Madhepura, Supaul and
Saharsa.
