Tensions rise over Indian flood relief

Guardian (UK): A row between aid agencies and Indian authorities has broken out over allegations that flood-stricken areas have received inadequate food supplies and medical equipment to cope with the annual monsoon deluge.

More than 250,000 refugees were in government and relief agency camps in Bihar, northern India, last night, while aid workers reported growing tensions over the lack of emergency supplies. Recent television footage showed people fighting to get places in boats, as soldiers in life jackets attempted to restore order. The anti-poverty charity ActionAid said "lessons from the past disasters should be kept in mind - a long-term comprehensive response is necessary to deal with relief, recovery and disaster preparedness".

Government officials said the Bihar floods were unprecedented. The Kosi river, which flows from Nepal into India, burst its banks two weeks ago, changing course and flooding surrounding areas. Prataya Amrit, a disaster-management official, said: "This has never happened before. How could we plan for this? Tell me which state can cope with hundreds of thousands of people losing everything."...

The Centre for Science and Environment prepared this image from the book titled "Floods, Flood Plains and Environmental Myths - State of Environment - a Citizens Report 3" page - , published in 1991 by the Centre for Science and Environment. Wikimedia Commons, under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2