India Floods Appeal 2007 - Orissa specific

The flood situation in India this year has been the worst in the living memory, as stated by the United Nations. We are already at work providing relief & succor to the flood victims in Bihar and successively taken up the challenging task of rehabilitating flood victim of Orissa. Millions have been affected due to these severe floods and thousands have been rendered homeless and will have to begin their lives from scratch then the flood waters recede.

The most urgent needs include shelter and access to fresh water, food, emergency medical supplies and basic household items, which our partner organization Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti (UBSS) is already doing with the help of local individuals and donors.

The two districts which have been devastated due to the recent floods are Balasore and Mayurbhanj, where over six lacks people are affected. These two districts were hit by floods five times successively, first being on the 27th of July 2007 and the last on the 2nd of October 2007 resulting in the collapse of over 5500 houses completely and damaging over 25000 houses partially.

The blocks which have been affected in Balasore district are Bhograi, Jaleswar, Baliapal, basta, Soro, Bahanaga and Remuna, where devastation was caused due to the rivers Suvarnarekha, Jalaka, Budha Balang and Kansabansa. The blocks affected severely in Mayurbhanj district being Badrahi, Betnoti and Gopalandhu Nagar, which were devastated due to the two rivers mainly Budha Balang and Gangahar.
We are very fortunate in having the Member of Parliament of Balasore Shri M. A. Kharabela Swain joining hands with us in providing relief and rehabilitation to the flood victims.

SEWA INTERNATIONAL in the first phase proposes to build low cost houses (As per Govt. norms) for at least 500 families for which we seek your support. Each house will cost $1,250. So the total cost of constructing 500 houses, with concrete roof as the coastal belt is cyclone prone, will cost $625,000.

SEWA INTERNATIONAL has launched an appeal to help these unfortunate victims. Your support will help reduce the sufferings of these people in the flood affected states, living in the remote areas. Sewa International will help the flood victims to bring back life to normal with the help of our partner organization UBSS.