In response to the flood disaster that hit Kerala State in India at the beginning of August, AMDA will dispatch a Coordinator (and qualified nurse in the U.S.) to Kochi in Kerala from AMDA Headquarters on 25th August. The AMDA coordinator is to join with AMDA’s local partners to discuss further plans upon arrival.
Sudden, large-scale floods were caused by torrential rain that affected 13 districts out of 14 districts in Kerala State in the second week of August. At least 374 deaths have been reported, and over 220,000 people have been displaced from their homes. As of now, 223,139 people have been seeking shelter in 1,500 relief camps (20th August, UNOCHA). Meanwhile, one local media also reports that at least 1,020,000 people were evacuating in 3,247 camps as of 20th August.
As well as Kerala State, damage has also been reported in the areas of Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland and Karnataka. Personnel from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Territorial Army and Police have been dispatched in large numbers, along with helicopters, boats, etc.
The AMDA personnel will be flying to Trivandrum, the capital of the state, first as the international airport in severely-affected Kochi will be closed until 29th August.