As relentless monsoon rains pelted southern Asia throughout the past month, desperation mounted. The water rose fast, washing away everything in its path. Realizing the danger, residents waded through feet of fast-moving water for higher ground, carrying children and a few possessions. Walls and roofs crumbled as the churning water swept cows, pigs, and other livestock away.
Asia’s usual monsoon season brought far more rain than normal this year, creating the worst flooding some parts of the region have experienced in decades. A Bangladesh contact said, “Entire villages, all of the families who lived in them, livestock, farmlands, and fisheries have been washed away.” A land where homes and farmland once stood is now submerged in up to nine feet of water.
Another contact in India reported, “Because the fields are flooded, many snakes are roaming around in the water. The people are very scared. The water is contaminated with various toxins, and people are getting sick.” One flood survivor lamented, “There is water everywhere, but not a single drop to drink.” The stagnant floodwaters are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which are spreading diseases among both people and livestock.
Living in open or makeshift shelters, many people face the reality that the homes they left behind are destroyed, their livestock is gone, and their crops are ruined. Traditional houses in rural South Asian villages are often built of mud, grass, and wood, making them vulnerable to heavy rains. In Bangladesh alone, our contacts report that more than three million people are displaced because of the flooding.
How can we help?
One of the greatest needs is prayer. Across Asia, people are reeling from the loss of homes, livelihoods, possessions, and loved ones. Pray that they would turn to the God who is “a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm . ..” (Isaiah 25:4)
We are working with trusted contacts to provide aid, including food, water, clothing, hygiene kits, and mosquito nets. Our prayer is that physical aid will reveal the greater gift of God’s love to flood-affected people across Asia. Our budget for this project is presently $400,000, but much more could be used as we receive and process requests. We want to give you, our supporters, the opportunity to join in our efforts.
AT A GLANCE
“This flood has been referred to as the worst flood in two hundred years.”–India contact.
Diseases and health conditions are mounting with the lack of access to drinking water, food, electricity, and necessary supplies.
CAM is providing aid in the following countries: Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan, India, and Thailand.
If you wish to help provide aid for flood victims in Asia or with other International Crisis projects click the donate button to give a gift.
