10 August 2007
Parts of India and Bangladesh have been devastated by extensive monsoon flooding—the worst floods in “living memory,” according to UNICEF. SIM and its partners are responding with relief.

SIM supports several ministries of the Emmanuel Hospital Association, including Duncan Hospital (and its associated community development projects) in the state of Bihar, one of the most impoverished and underdeveloped regions of India. This region has been one of the hardest hit by the flooding. Duncan Hospital has also been affected.

A colleague working at the hospital reported recently:

“At present we are involved in a flood relief program, so other work is having to take second priority. We have sent out a relief medical team to Sugauli this morning. Yesterday I visited and the situation is very serious ... At present it is raining heavily again. We are setting up the hospital as a receiving centre for pregnant women and sick children who may need to be evacuated from their homes ... Some areas are only accessible by boat.”

The EHA Disaster Management Team is coordinating the emergency response in India. In Bangladesh, SIM is also joining relief efforts in partnership with other organizations.

Please pray:

• For those responding to the disaster in Bangladesh.
• For the EHA Disaster Management Team in facilitating the response in India.
• For funds to meet the various needs.
• Duncan Hospital staff and volunteers as they struggle to cope with reaching out to many people impacted by the floods.
• Transport to flood-affected regions is a major issue as many roads are damaged by flood waters or blocked with broken-down vehicles.
• There is an urgent need for volunteers. Please pray for more volunteers to be raised up.
• For Bihar district: effective responses to minimize the suffering and impact on this impoverished region.
• For the heavy rains to end.

Praise

• For pledges of support and funds starting to come in.