After the south India floods: 8 New disasters families face
"If you had come the day when there was still water here, you would have got really good photos," said one of the residents.
Newspapers, online news portals and social media, the past week in India were filled with images of people wading through neck deep water, neighbourhoods inundated, and vehicles trying to drive through completely flooded roads - dramatic images!
But once the flood waters receded, it’s often thought 'life has returned to normalcy.' I visited one of the slum settlements in Chennai, two days after the flood waters had receded. Life has not returned to normal. It seems like a disaster has just struck, for each family a different one.
1. RUINED HOMES
The bed of an infant lies ruined by the flood waters, even as a man stand over it with a knife in hand trying to figure out a way to repair and rebuild his badly damaged thatched roof house.
2. MASS CLEAN-UP
All the extremely narrow lanes in this slum settlement in Chennai are filled with sludge and mud from the floods.
"We spent three days just to clean it up. Every utensil and every little thing in the house has to be cleaned. Standing in the sludge the whole day has made us feeling ill," said one of the residents.
3. HOMELESS & NO WHERE TO GO
Thirteen-year-old Surendra is happy trying to catch fish with his friends in the flooded canal along which his family resides. His parents however, are worriedand helpless since their house has been completely washed away by the flood.
Surendra's father Murthy is a daily wage labourer, who paints the walls of high rise constructions in the city.
He gets around Rs.450 per day. "But usually we get work only for two to three days a week. Now it has been more than 20 days since there has been any work," he adds.
Surendra's family, like all the other families in the settlement, have taken shelter in the school nearby. However, the school authorities are now planning to reopen the school. "We don't know where to go and what to do. How long can we stay in other's house. It feels awkward and embarrassing," says Chinnaponnu, Surendra's mother.
5. EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FALTER
A mother drying the books of her children that got soaked in the flood.
6. CHILDREN STRUGGLE WITH ILLNESS
One and half year old Srimu sleeps peacefully on his mother Bavani's shoulder.
"He is not feeling well," a worried Bavani says. "We lost all our belongings. We were able to gather only a few clothes, when the warning to evacuate was given. Many children here are down with fever," she adds.
7. IMPOVERISHED FAMILIES DEALING WITH NEW FINANCIAL BURDENS
With many huts badly damaged, repairing and rebuilding is going to be a huge financial burden on these families. They have to repair the thatched houses atleast once in 3 to 5 years. And each time they have to spend Rs.20,000 to 30,000 on it. Now, with the rains the damages are huge and most families will have to borrow money to carry out repairs, which will again push them into debts.
Plus there is the cost of having to buy new utensils and other things to replace what they have lost.
8. CLASSROOMS NO LONGER LEARNING SPACES
Aashika is a World Vision sponsored child, and studies in class 6. Her house too was flooded like all other families from her locality. "I lost most of my books. I was able to save only a few," she says.
The entire settlement has now taken shelter in the school that Aashika studies.
And Aashika and her family now sleep in Aashika's classroom, she her sister, her mother and father, in this small room that they've made using the classroom benches.
WORLD VISION IS RESPONDING
World Vision is committed to responding to the flood affected families. Over the next couple of weeks, World Vision India is hoping to reach out to over 52,000 people with dry ration and Non-Food Items, like utensils, blankets, mats and mosquito nets in Chennai city, Cuddalore and Nellore district.
World Vision India is also committed to stand by the affected families with shelter and livelihood assistance as well, as they recover and slowly rebuild their lives.
You can help. Make a donation to the South India Flood Response.