By IANS,
Mumbai : The Bihar government has asked SOS Children’s Villages of India (SOS-India) to work with it on a long term partnership to carryout relief operations in the flood ravaged districts of the state, an official here said Tuesday.
SOS-India is providing relief to over 1,600 families and 3,000 children from its relief centre in Purnea, an official of the NGO said.
“In view of our expertise and experience in dealing with such emergencies, the Bihar government has requested us to help out,” said S. Sandilya, SOS-India president.
The Purnea Family and Child Relief Centre being run by the NGO is providing food packets, baby foods, drinking water, basic medical and toilet facilities to the people rescued from the worst-hit areas, he said.
Presently, 15 districts of northern Bihar are submerged in the floods with the worst affected being Supaul, Araria, Saharsa, Purnea and Madhepura that border Nepal. Rescue operations are in full swing and more and more people are being brought to the relief camps.
According to officials, over 2.5 million people have been affected by the floods in 1,598 villages.
The Kosi river, sometimes called the “Sorrow of Bihar”, changed course after almost two centuries following a breach in an embankment upstream in Nepal.
SOS Children’s Villages of India is a non-government voluntary childcare organization, working for the care of children in need, especially during natural calamities. It also engages in providing long term relief and rehabilitation to the children and their families.
Since inception in 1964, SOS-India has 31 children’s villages and 122 allied projects all over India. It is a member of the SOS-Kinderdorf International that works in 132 countries worldwide.