Juan Ciudad NGO is launching the "Kerala Emergency" fundraising campaign today, along with other organizations working in the areas severely affected by the floods. This campaign will continue to assist displaced people in the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki. It will also collaborate in the reconstruction of the area and the return to their homes, which have been destroyed or seriously damaged, as well as roads and other communication routes.
In Kuttanadu and Idukky, the Archdiocese of Changanasserry, through its Changanacherry Social Service Society (CHASS) and the Congregation of the Poor Clares, is working intensively to provide shelter, drinking water, food, clothing, and medicine to 16,250 families in parishes, schools, and other centers equipped to accommodate the thousands of people forced to flee their homes due to the floods.
Meanwhile, the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God is present in the Kattappana region, which is located at a higher elevation but also severely affected by landslides caused by the rains and flooding of rivers. Medical teams from the St. John of God Hospital located there are providing care to victims. The Diocese of Kanjirappally is also providing care to nearly 100,000 people in shelters and distributing food, medicine, hygiene products, and basic necessities.
Furthermore, there are fears of an outbreak of infectious diseases due to water contamination caused by the collapse of sewage and sanitation systems, making it crucial to ensure continued access to drinking water, food, hygiene products, and medicines.
The account to make donations is:
ES63 0049 6096 4225 1013 7261
This year's monsoon in India has been unprecedented, with torrential rains accompanied by strong winds and storms occurring in June, July, and August. These events have caused flooding and landslides, killing hundreds of people and causing extensive property damage in the states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, and Nagaland, as well as Kerala, the worst-affected state with 410 deaths (according to the tally published on August 20). This figure could rise further, as rescue efforts by the army and relief teams continue in high and hard-to-reach areas, although the rains are less intense and the water has begun to slowly recede.
The heaviest flood occurred on August 14, when 35 of the country's 42 dams were opened at once, reaching their maximum capacity. Numerous already swollen rivers burst their banks and completely inundated large areas along the coast in southern Kerala, submerging homes and rice paddies and destroying roads, bridges, and other means of communication.
The water level rose in just a few hours, reaching two meters, far exceeding the usual monsoon season levels. As a result, more than 1 million people have been displaced and evacuated. They had to flee the flood in a hurry, with no way to take any belongings, and therefore no change of clothes, money, or basic hygiene kits.
According to Indian government data, these people are being cared for in 3,200 relief camps set up by the state, NGOs, and other entities such as parishes and schools.
A campaign launched by:
Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God (Juan Ciudad ONGD and the SJD Hospital of Kattapana)
Congregation of Franciscan Poor Clares
Archdiocese of Changanassherry through Changanacherry Social Service Society (CHASS)
Diocese of Kanjirappally.
More information:Â comunicacion@juanciudad.org
