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India + 4 more

CWS Hotline - 08 Sep 2008: India, USA, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba

(Extract)

India

"It is a catastrophe far greater than the annual floods," says long-time Church World Service partner Church's Auxiliary for Social Action, of severe flooding in India.

More than two million people have been affected by floods caused by the overflowing Kosi River in Bihar, India--the worst flooding to hit the northeastern Indian region in decades. At least 70 people have been killed. The flooding has inundated towns and villages-even some that were considered "flood-safe areas" and that have not seen such floods for decades.

CWS is supporting the efforts of long-time Indian partner CASA to provide food, household items, and shelter.

CASA is providing dry rations (10 kgs rice, 2 kgs lentils, 1 litre edible oil, 1 kg salt, 200 grams turmeric powder and 200 grams chili powder); clothing (1 man's dhoti and 1 woman's sari); 9 utensils; 1 woolen blanket, 1 cotton floor mat, and 1 bedsheet; 4 meters of cotton cloth; 2 10-litre plastic containers for water; 5 towels; and plastic sheeting for 10,000 families. The sheeting provides immediate temporary shelter for people who have lost almost everything in the flood waters.

CASA is also providing ready-to-eat food (1 kilogram of molasses and 10 kilograms of rice) for 5,000 of the families--those who have no facilities at present to cook food.

In addition, CASA is building 625 15' x 40' transit shelters and 625 field latrine units to meet the needs of 2,500 affected families--four families per unit.

Contributions to this relief effort may be made online.

Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery

Hurricane Gustav inflicted little damage on New Orleans, but Louisiana's southern parishes and bayous were hard hit. In these parishes, sustainable livelihoods, housing and environmental damage were chronic problems even before Hurricane Gustav. Louisiana's bayou communities have been struggling to recover since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, an effort now complicated and hampered by Gustav.

Over several years, CWS has invested in building long-term recovery capacity along the U.S. Gulf Coast-resulting in better preparedness for pre- and post-Gustav and other storms. As local recovery groups undertake recovery from Gustav--on top of continuing long-term Katrina/Rita recovery--CWS is providing material resources and project development support.

CWS is providing CWS Kits and Blankets to local partners as needed and is joining Houma, La.-based Terrebonne Readiness Assistance Coalition, TRAC, in building a community of 25 "lift houses," houses built for economy and ecology, and to withstand hurricane-force winds--a sustainable housing solution for coastal areas. Beneficiaries will be selected using case management strategies already in place by TRAC; beneficiaries are responsible for up to half the cost of the homes.

"These homes will help reduce vulnerability while providing sustainable housing," says CWS Emergency Response Director Donna Derr.

CWS will reach out to its network of more than 30 long-term recovery groups along the Gulf Coast to propagate the lift house concept. CWS and TRAC will work with community college building trades to use lift house construction as a teaching model with trainees and contractors. And, in cooperation with TRAC, CWS will also facilitate recruitment of U.S. volunteer group labor through its denominational network.

Contributions to this relief effort may be made online.

Caribbean Hurricanes

Tropical Storm Hanna, coming on the heels of Hurricane Gustav, which claimed 94 lives during the last week, brought additional rains and winds to Haiti on Sept. 4, killing at least another 137 people. Two other tropical storms--Ike and Josephine--have formed and are threatening the Caribbean.

In Haiti, Gustav damaged or destroyed more than 14,500 houses and caused massive destruction to agriculture. Don Tatlock, CWS Latin America and Caribbean Liaison, reports that the flooding from Hanna is increasing concerns over the growing food crisis in Haiti.

CWS is providing an initial 1,000 lightweight CWS Blankets, 5,010 CWS School Kits, and 5,040 Hygiene Kits for emergency needs in Haiti.

In the northern Dominican Republic, at least 5,000 persons had to be evacuated due to flooding caused by rains. The cumulative effect of the storms could have serious consequences for infrastructure and agriculture throughout the Caribbean, says Lorenzo Mota King, director of Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas, a long-time CWS partner. "We are praying to God that these new storms don't affect us."

Gustav is regarded as the most severe hurricane to strike Cuba in the past 50 years. Some 250,000 people in western Cuba were evacuated in advance of the storm. In Jamaica, Gustav killed 12 people and affected 72 communities.

CWS is supporting efforts by partners in the region; assessments are now underway.