EMERGENCY APPEAL AUGUST | 2018

KERALA FLOODS

Catholic Relief Services and its local Catholic partners respond to help families in India, where floods have destroyed homes, killed more than 400 people and displaced over 1.45 million.

CONTEXT

Since early August, extreme Filpro floods in India’s southwestern state of Kerala have killed more than 400 people and displaced over 1.45 million.

When water reached danger levels at 27 , it was decided their gates should be opened, resulting Wikimedia/ from Map adapted in the widespread destruction of infrastructure and homes, and the inundation of agricultural land.

The state government has reported extensive flood and landslide damage to crops and property. Rivers have overflowed, and air, rail and road transportation have been disrupted.

State officials estimate that more than 200 landslides have occurred, and close to 20,000 houses have been destroyed, along with thousands of miles of roads. Eleven People are evacuated from a flood-stricken area in the coastal city of Kochi in Kerala. of the state’s 14 districts were Photo by Xinhua/Alamy Live News affected, with the worst-off being Wayanad, Malappuram, Idukki, Many families have taken shelter with destruction of a life’s worth of Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kottayam and neighbors or relatives and in parish assets, including their homes, Alappuzha. halls, churches and other facilities. furniture and legal documents. This makes it difficult to estimate the Homes built out of mud and cement The government has provided true number of displaced people. suffered the most damage. shelter for 167,000 people across 1,000 camps, and is also The rapid onset of the flooding Livestock, a main source of income providing food and basic monetary meant that many families for many, were also lost to the compensation. experienced damage to or floodwaters.

People say they have never witnessed so much rain in their lifetimes. Many have had their homes washed away by landslides. Others are coming back to find their homes in complete ruin. “ Jomey Joseph, CRS head of office, PRIORITY NEEDS As waters recede, families are moving back to their homes. With many wells contaminated by floodwaters, priorities include cleaning water facilities to ensure safe drinking water, as well as providing families with living supplies and support for their shelter recovery.

Farmers have also suffered a blow, especially in Idukki, where most families depend on cash crops such as cardamom and pepper, which have been completely uprooted. In Wayanad, 37 colonies of tribal people—who are isolated and marginalized— were among those impacted. Some tribal people prefer to continue living in their damaged houses rather than going into the camps. Debt‑ridden farmers have now lost their entire livelihoods as the floods washed away their harvests. A submerged home in Wayanad, an inland district known for its tea CRS AND PARTNER RESPONSE plantations. Photo by Shailendra Pattanaik for CRS CRS and our local partners have carried out assessments in Palakkad, Idukki and Wayanad districts, and have prioritized urgent relief for Wayanad, because it is one of the worst-affected districts and has been isolated due to damaged $425,000 roads. Also, the district’s large tribal population is IS BEING SOUGHT BY CRS TO CARRY OUT THESE among the most socioeconomically marginalized RELIEF AND RECOVERY ACTIVITIES sections of the society.

CRS and our partners are coordinating closely While some relief materials are sourced elsewhere due with the district administration, Caritas and the to lack of availability—such as tarps from Chennai—most local Church, and other active nongovernmental are bought locally in the affected areas. This maximizes organizations in the area. cost efficiency, reduces transportation costs, ensures timeliness in meeting the immediate lifesaving needs Immediate assistance of vulnerable groups, and supports local vendors and CRS has initiated emergency assistance to 2,200 economies. At each distribution event, arrangements families, or 8,800 people, with the following: will be made to support the use of the relief items by vulnerable people, such as by giving them priority in nn Shelter kits Tarpaulins, plastic matting, rope and distribution lines, and transporting the items for those thick blankets. At the distributions, families will who cannot easily carry them. receive an orientation from staff on the proper Long-term recovery methods for securing the tarpaulin to existing roof structures or to frames made from salvaged Based on further assessments and a clearer understanding materials. of assistance to be provided by the government, CRS will support families with long-term recovery, likely with nn Hygiene kits, and water storage and treatment kits a focus on housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, Hygiene kits will include soap, washing powder, and strengthened or recovered livelihoods for the most antiseptic liquids and sanitary napkins. Materials vulnerable, including tribal families. will include illustrations and instructions in the local language to promote adherence to new practices. Messages will emphasize the use of tools and materials recipients may be less familiar HOW TO HELP with, such as those for water treatment. Hygiene Donate to help families affected by the Kerala floods: promotion will focus on proper handwashing at nn Donate online: donate.crs.org key times and safe water collection, storage and treatment. nn Donate by phone: 1-877‑HELP‑CRS nn Household items Buckets with lids, ladles and nn Donate by check: Catholic Relief Services chlorine tablets. P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, Maryland 21297-0303