Location: West Bengal

Amount Supported: Rs 1,000,000

Chapters: AID US Relief Fund

Torrential rain during the month of June has left thousands homeless in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal. With no government assistance, AID supported relief work through its partners SKMUK and MLC.

Nine villages on Nirmalchar were completely flooded by the Padma River (sometimes known as Ganga) and about 15000 people were critically affected. Homes, utensils, clothes, grain stocks were destroyed and fields submerged. Majority of the affected population live on the infertile islands left behind by a shifting river course know as Chars.

Through its partners Samaj Kalyan O Mahila Unnayan Kendra (SKMUK) & Mandra Lions Club (MLC) AID supported immediate food relief to 2500 families and weekly rations to 200 families. Tarpaulins were provided to families whose homes had been broken.

There was no media coverage and no government assistance. MLC & SKMUK advocated with the block officials to mobilize government relief.

A quickly edited video helped gather some media attention. AID partners took the very few media persons who had come to the affected villages.