14 October 2009

As flood water continues to recede in South India, people are slowly returning to their houses. Shelter needs are now a huge challenge for affected communities.

“The most vulnerable are the ones who have totally lost their thatched houses and are left without any means to rebuild,” says Franklin Joseph, Director HEA, World Vision India.

Children are returning home after days in relief camps, only to find their houses completely damaged, and lost or muddy school books and note books. With families having lost their crops and houses and looking at migrating, more and more children supported by World Vision may be forced to go along with their parents, thus, leaving school.

While, the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have announced compensation for damaged homes, the amount will be barely sufficient to rebuild houses.

“We work with the most oppressed communities and they are the ones who have lost heavily during these floods. Earlier there was migration due to drought and now there is migration due to monsoon. Until they receive the compensation from the Government, we need to quickly step in to stop migration and protect children”, says Dr Jayakumar Christian, National Director, World Vision India.

Meanwhile, food shortages, children’s health, and education remain large challenges in the aftermath of the floods.

Read more about World Vision’s reponse in India here.