Emergency medical and relief work in Chennai

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

FLOOD RELIEF WORK IN CHENNAI – Report Up to 31^st January 2017.

SPHEED is a grass root level community based organization working for the all round development of women and downtrodden sections of the population in its service area villages through awareness creation, capacity building, skill development, income generation, leadership development and community organization activities. SPHEED has been functioning in the rural and tribal villages in Thiruvannamalai district, Tamilnadu State, India.

About the Calamity

Widespread and excessive rainfall lashed Tamilnadu state during November 2015. Rainfall in all but two of the 34 districts in the state has exceeded the normally observed levels, while five districts have been pounded by over twice the average rainfall received between October and the end of November.

Chennai, the capital city of Tamilnadu State is one of the worst hit areas in the state. Chennai received almost 1,200 mm of rain in November, which is nearly 300 per cent above the normal observation of 407.4 mm. In Chennai, large parts of the city remained inundated over most of the past three weeks. People have been stranded on roof tops. The daily wage earning families that had put up thatched sheds on the banks of Koovam and Adayar rivers have not only lost their homes but also all their valuables that include their near and dear ones.

SPHEED’s Role in Relief Work

In view of the dimensions of the natural calamity that has affected people in Chennai, SPHEED considered it important that it supplements the efforts of the government thereby helping communities to cope and recover from the disaster. Towards this end, SPHEED applied for financial assistance through Global Giving, UK in which SPHEED is a partner.

Through this appeal, SPHEED was able to mobilize the funds, to participate in relief work in Chennai. With this amount, SPHEED was able to provide for living expenses of 5 families in a flood hit area in Chennai. The living expenses included supply of rice, bed sheets, and mats. It may look small. But, taking into consideration the plight of families in a time of need, SPHEED is satisfied that it was able to extend its helping hand to the 5 families. SPHEED takes this opportunity to thank all those who had contributed to this effort of SPHEED.