Sewa International Delivers a Mobile Clinic for Bihar Flood Victims - Dec 26, 2008
Even after four months, the floods in Bihar are forcing the victims to still live in camps and they continue to need immediate and long-term relief. This humanitarian crisis is worst that Bihar has ever witnessed. There are miles and miles of inundated lands due to flood water all around, and many damaged roads and bridges are yet to be repaired. The Kosi river embankment is still being repaired and the repair work is expected to be completed in January 2009. Agriculture sector too has suffered major damage as the standing crops were washed away by the flowing water and the agricultural land has been filled with sandy silt of the river.
Sewa International has been in the forefront since the beginning of this natural calamity to help the people affected by the floods. On December 16th 2008, a Mobile Medical Van was donated in the Saharsa district to serve the flood victims by attending to their health needs. A team a local medical doctors were invited for the inauguration ceremony, who showed their willingness to volunteer for Sewa International in serving the flood victims by visiting different parts of the flood affected districts and providing the needed treatment with free medication. Due to the standing flood waters, many waterborne diseases are being reported. The medical van will be very useful in helping create a disease-free environment in the five flood affected districts (Saharsa, Madhepura, Araria, Supaul and Purnea) of Bihar.
The generous donations from the Indo American Society of Bay Area, CA ($ 5,100) and Intel Corporation’s Indian employees (about $ 5,000) were key in acquiring the medical van. Sewa USA pitched in the remaining necessary donation to acquire a medical van. The total cost of the van is $ 15,000. Sewa International really appreciates the donations from the Indo American Society of Bay Area as well as from the donors from Intel, and will continue to work for relief and rehabilitation of the affected people.
As Sewa International continue to assist Bihar people, one of the next major projects is construction of a boy’s hostel at Bihariganj in the Madhepura where it wish to impart quality education with moral values to the children of the flood victims who cannot afford a good education. Sewa International will soon be submitting rehabilitation/reconstruction project proposals for donor’s assistance, to tide over this catastrophe in Bihar.
