Helping Rebuild

A third of the country was covered by the floods which washed away entire villages of mud huts, ruined crops and destroyed businesses, bridges and railway tracks.

Standing water, saturated soil and thick silt left by the floods meant many people could not live on the ground where their homes once stood.

Although water-borne diseases remain a threat, the greatest public health risk is increasingly from chest infections, including influenza and pneumonia, with more than 200,000 cases being reported in the second week of January 2011 alone.

Our members are concentrating on projects to help some of the most vulnerable people to begin rebuilding permanent homes and ensure water supplies are safe.

They are also assisting farmers in acquiring livestock and tools so they can rebuild their livelihoods and by providing small cash grants to others to help them start businesses.

DEC funding for our member agencies’ response to the floods will continue until July 2012.