As per the request Mr. Austin Kundar, Sec. Bombay YMCA we are sending this mail to you to do the needful.

Dear Sir,

Greetings from Patna YMCA!

I highly appreciate your spontaneous response and support for the flood relief victims which Patna YMCA is going to initiate at the earliest, individually or by the help of its network partners in the most flood affected areas of North Bihar, i.e. Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Araria and Purnea.

I also appreciate the concern and sympathy you have for the flood victims and people of Bihar at large. Here in a brief I would like to present before you situational condition of the flood affected areas.

This natural calamity has not only caused damage to the human life but also to the cattle, vegetation and environment. People have lost their houses, livelihoods, family members, animal lifes and public utilities. Which can never be calculated in terms of cash/money. The present misery that has caused damage to the people of the affected areas is going to continue minimum of another five years.

The acute crisis which has been observed are the lack of acute drinkeable water, unhygienic sanitation options, shelter, food, clothes and medicines.   

1. Details of location: The flood situation is extremely grim more than forty lakhs of people in the districts are affected by Koshi river. More than 50% are still marooned/traped. There is need of urgent relief camp and urgent relief responses.
2. According to the situation and seeing the nature of flood the following responses are immediately needed:
  a. Rescue operation
  b. Relief work
  c. Rehabilitation work
Besides this, the needs can be divided in to short term and for long term, i.e. minimum 3 to 8 months.
3. The urgent requirements for the Rescue/Relief action includes the following:
a. Rescue                                                         
i. Life saving boats                                             
ii. Life jackets                                                     
iii. Ropes                                                           
iv. Torches                                                     
                                                                         
b. Relief
i. Tarpolene
ii. Food Kits: Rice, wheat, pulses, chana, chura, gram powder, salt, gur
iii. Medicine kits: Halogene tablets, bleaching powder, tablets for fever, headaches, diarrohea, sanitary napkins, venom injections (snake bites), etc.
iv. Family kits: Soaps, clothes (saree, cotton clothes), towel, slippers, etc.
v. Kitchen kits: utensils, buckets, plastic sheets, kerosene stoves, kerosene oil
v. Generator for power supply

Presently there are Oxfam, Megha Pine Abhiyaan (MPA), UNICEF, Concern Worlwide, UNDP many other INGOs/NGOs/govt. agencies are reaching to the area and analyzing the need and planning their strategies.

Our targeted population will be approximately 10000 - 15000, particularly dalits, minorities, the most vulnerable women & children. We want to start our flood victim work mainly from supaul and saharsa districts. In Supaul district 2 blocks to start with, i.e. Basantpur & Chattapur and in Saharsa 2 blocks, i.e. Simri & Patharghat approximately 2500 population each blocks.

Our strategic planning is like this:
1. Reaching to the above-mentioned areas and assessing the specific needs of the victims
2. Finding the gaps and accordingly taking decisions for the requirements
3. Establishing coordination among the agencies/govt./PRI/Local Communities.

At this juncture we are still planning to work out for a resonable budget according to the need of the hour but at least 10 -15 lakhs grant if sent immediately, we can take up the task to find out and to do the rescue & relief work immediately and by the time plan out a proper project for the rehabilitation.

We are hereby enclosing a list of IInd Phase Bihar flood statistical data as on 1st September' 2008 which will support the request we are making for.

It will be helpful for us to make our plan if you can see the above requirement list and send us your approval or committment. We will also appreciate your visits during our course of relief work and witness the crisis and stand with us to combat the calamity, together to save the mankind.

Looking forward speedy reply, guidance, suggestions and financial assistance.

Thanking you with regards

Yours truly

Christopher Bachmann
General Secretary
YMCA Patna

            MR. CHRISTOPHER BACHMANN, GENERAL SECRETARY

          CHRIST CHURCH CAMPUS, COLLECTORATE ROAD, PATNA-01

              PHONE: 0612-2661958, 6453938

               E mail: ymcapatna@rediffmail.com / ymcapatna@sify.com /       

                christopher.ycare@gmail.com