As Deadly Floods Displace Millions, AmeriCares India Foundation Mounts Relief Efforts in India
October 9, 2009

Photo courtesy of Hope WorldWide.

Families have been left reeling by the widespread devastation.

Severe flooding in India has killed more than 300 people and left 250,000 homeless. This is the worst flooding to hit south central India in decades. More than 1.5 million people were forced from their homes and thousands are crowding temporary camps and makeshift emergency shelters.

The AmeriCares India Foundation team is responding to the disaster with medicines, medical supplies and disaster aid. The managing Director, Dr. Purvish Parikh, M.D., will also offer medical assistance and emergency response expertise to health care providers on the ground.

“Reports of serious illness as a result of floods and contaminated water are already streaming in. Malaria, liver problems and gastrointestinal diseases are on the rise,” reports Dr. Parikh. “In a disaster situation, even common conditions such as diarrhea and bronchitis can quickly escalate and become deadly.”

AmeriCares India Foundation is working with local organizations on the ground to help ensure survivors have the medical they need. Emergency modules stocked with disaster relief and medical aid are being deployed from the Mumbai warehouse. Aid will be delivered to local organizations working both in Karnataka and Andhra Pardesh, the two Indian states hit hardest by the devastating floods.

Among other things, AmeriCares India Foundation's medical aid includes antibiotics and other lifesaving medicines to treat injuries and address disease outbreaks.

AmeriCares has been delivering lifesaving medicines and medical supplies to health care providers in India for over 15 years. In that time, we’ve delivered more than $47 million worth of aid through established partnerships with local nongovernmental organizations to ensure our medicines reach the people most in need. We have deepened our commitment to the region in order to help many more people live longer, healthier lives.