Millions Displaced By South Asia Monsoons
August 3, 2007
Rising floodwaters have turned thousands of places - including this village in Nepal - into islands with stranded families. Photo: courtesy of the UN
Epic floods, described by many as the worst in living memory, are deluging large swaths of India, Nepal and Pakistan. At least 1,000 people are reported dead or injured, and teams on the ground warn that the number of casualties will rise sharply in the coming days.
More than 20 million people have either been forced from their homes by rising floodwaters or are trapped in their submerged villages, cut off from swamped roads that lead to safety.
"Our offices across South Asia report that this is unprecedented flooding," said John Stephens, Mercy Corps' South Asia Program Officer. "Especially among these dense, poor populations, this disaster's human toll will prove staggering."
Mercy Corps, which works with communities and local partners in India, Nepal and Pakistan, has extensive experience responding to disasters and crises in southern Asia. Over the last few years, we have provided aid and assistance in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, Gujarat earthquake and Pakistan earthquake.
With decades of experience in the region, we are well placed and prepared to deliver critical supplies and other assistance to families in often-isolated areas.
Over the last five years, more than 89% of resources allocated directly to programs.