Most News Headlines on Kashmir floods continue to fall short of capturing the intensity of this calamity. I have put together some points which our friends in media and humanitarian agencies could use in their communications to capture the enormity of the crisis: - Close to 5 million people are affected by the floods – 4.5 million in Kashmir valley and half a million in the Jammu region. - This is the worst flood Kashmir has witnessed in over a century - Some 3 million people and their homes are submerged mainly in the districts of Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Bandipora and Budgam - The submerged and affected people include Indian and foreign visitors and Indian construction workers – whose number is estimated at half a million. - Kashmir’s only road linkage with the outside world - the Srinagar-Jammu highway - remains closed since seven days and is expected to open in another 4-5 days. Closure of this vital surface communication link has resulted in acute shortage of essential commodities in Kashmir. All supplies to Kashmir at present could only reach Srinagar by air. - Although Srinagar Airport (the region’s only civilian airport) is open, access to Srinagar city from the airport and the larger Kashmir region is still not possible. - Some areas close to Srinagar airport, mainly in the highlands of Budgam district, remain accessible. - Mobile network, landline phones, Internet, banking services (Including ATMs), local TV and radio services remain suspended. State-owned BSNL mobile services have been restored on Wednesday in some limited areas of Srinagar - Drinking water and power services are suspended since Sunday in Srinagar and other flood affected areas. Power has been restored to some areas close to Srinagar airport. - As of 11 September, 2014; according to police sources, 220 people have died in Srinagar city and bodies of women and children have been retrieved. The process of retrieving bodies in on. Over 200 people have been killed by the floods elsewhere. - Hundreds of houses and buildings have collapsed in the last three days, especially in Old Srinagar – home to some 600,000 people. The exact casualties and damage remains unknown. - There is severe shortage of essential commodities. Markets – wherever free of water – have run out of stocks - Srinagar’s commercial hub Lal Chowk, administrative districts, including civil secretariat, government TV and radio stations, Police headquarters, High Court and almost all other important installations are submerged and immobilized. - Due to submergence of critical go-downs in the commercial hubs of the flood affected areas, particularly in and around Srinagar, an acute shortage of supplies is like to emerge in the next few days, which has a potential of creating large-scale disturbances. - Flash floods in Jammu region has also resulted in disruption in road services in the district of Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi. About rescue and relief efforts: - Most of the rescue and relief efforts are being carried out by local volunteers and Indian army and air force. Close to 100,000 people - mostly visitors to and construction workers in Kashmir - have been evacuated in the last three days by armed forces. Local volunteer efforts - carried with improvised boats and floating objects - are estimated to have rescued about one million people. - MSF, Save the Children, Action Aid, ICRC and Handicap International are the only international aid agencies operating in Kashmir. No INGO rescue or relief effort has been initiated in Kashmir so far. Some relief efforts have been initiated in Jammu region, particularly in Rajouri area. - As of 11 September 2014, no inter-government or inter- aid agency coordination efforts have been initiated in Kashmir. - Kashmiri diaspora, private individual and non governmental actions are beginning to witness aid mobilisation and transportation to Srinagar airport. The absence of a centralised coordinated system has the risk of this aid effort being duplicated or servicing non high priority areas. - A Sphere India-led situation report - an inter-aid agency co-ordination system in India - has been issued from New Delhi on 9th September. The report draws upon secondary government and army information sources. An updated, ground- informed and comprehensive situation report is awaited. - No organised government rescue and relief has been initiated as of now due to complete break-down of government administrative system - Hundreds of relief camps have been established in and around Srinagar mostly run by local volunteer efforts. Community kitchens and shelters have been organised in hundreds of villages and habitations in and outside Srinagar. - Critical aid requirements include: boats, drinking water, medicines, hygiene kits, food, warm clothes, blankets, baby food, milk, children’s hygiene kits.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:42:29 +0000
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