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MSF INTERVENES IN THE AREAS WORST AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS IN THE STATE OF BIHAR, INDIA
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have been assessing the humanitarian situation in the areas affected by the floods in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Since the beginning of the recent floods in the north of India, Nepal and Bangladesh which have caused severe damages and affected millions of people, MSF teams have been monitoring the situation on the ground and assessing the need for intervention. In the next few days, an MSF team will start an intervention with a mobile clinic in the state of Bihar, one of the most affected areas which is in the northeast of India and bordering with Nepal. In spite of the logistical difficulties caused by the rain and after exchanging information on the situation with other NGOs, the authorities and UNICEF, the MSF team (which until now was working in the area providing medical attention to Kala Azar patients) has spent the last few days travelling across the state of Bihar assessing the humanitarian needs of the population affected by the floods. Bihar, one of the poorest regions in the country, is also one of the areas most affected by the annual monsoon rain. Affected by the monsoon rain every year, the population of Bihar is used to quickly fleeing with their possessions and animals and taking refuge on the roads and other safe areas when they perceive an alarming increase in the water levels.
The MSF teams have found that in the areas with large population centres there has been a limited response on behalf of local NGOs and the authorities and there have been no large scale health emergencies that have required an immediate intervention by MSF. As time goes by, however, the situation will become increasingly worrying as, although there are groups of people who have already been able to return to their villages,for others, it will be weeks before they can go home. It is possible that there will be epidemics and other problems related to the floods. Thus, after assessing the urgent needs of the people in the most isolated areas and who have received the least amount of help from government authorities and NGOs, MSF will start a first intervention in the Darbanga District this week. This is one of the most affected areas and where neither the authorities nor other NGOs have been able to provide any medical assistance. It is estimated that the length of the intervention will be of two months, and there will be two teams which will use mobile clinics to provide primary health care and humanitarian assistance to those displaced and the people who remain in villages cut off by the floods.
With two mobile clinics formed by national and international medical and logistical staff, MSF will continue monitoring the situation in the area and will be ready to quickly respond to any epidemic that might break out as a consequence of the floods. The monsoon season does not end until mid-September and it is possible that there will be more rain in the coming weeks. When the levels of water decrease significantly and the displaced people are able to go back to their homes, MSF will assess the need for an intervention that would focus on reconstruction and water and sanitation. In other areas of India affected by the floods such as Assam and Uttar Pradesh, the MSF teams on the ground have confirmed that the most urgent medical needs are being met by both the authorities and the NGOs that are working in the area. The people affected by the floods have taken refuge in makeshift camps or camps set up by the government, located at higher altitudes. The situation in Nepal and Bangladesh is similar to the one in India and there is also a danger of epidemic outbreaks once the level of the water decreases. MSF teams are also carrying out an assessment of the situation on the ground and are ready for an immediate intervention if it is considered necessary.
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