Oxfam Scotland has welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government is distributing £300,000 from its Humanitarian Emergency Fund to help support people left homeless following floods that ravaged South Asia.
Nearly 1,500 people have been killed and an estimated 43 million people have been affected by ongoing flooding and landslides in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Oxfam staff in Bangladesh reported that two-thirds of the country was under water and in some areas the flooding was the worst since 1988. In Nepal, tens of millions of dollars’ worth of crops and livestock have been lost.
So far, Oxfam has provided clean drinking water, soap and other hygiene items to help stop the spread of water-borne diseases, as well as the cash needed to buy necessities, to 186,000 people impacted by the floods. It plans to reach many more as the crisis continues.
Paolo Lubrano, Oxfam’s Regional Humanitarian Manager Asia, said: “The devastating level of flooding we’ve seen across communities in South Asia is unheard of; hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes and assets, many have lost their livelihood, and will not be able to cope with the ever-increasing hardship”
“Donations from the international community are vital to the relief effort as agencies like Oxfam continue to do all we can to help people recover from this disaster while building their capacity to prevent and cope with future crises.”
Oxfam Scotland is also encouraging members of the public to support Oxfam’s South Asia appeal to help provide clean water, sanitation and other urgently needed items: https://donate.oxfam.org.uk/emergency/asiafloods
Angus Nelson, Head of Fundraising for Oxfam Scotland, added: “This hugely welcome cash injection from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund will enable humanitarian agencies to provide lifesaving support to people in urgent need.
“Given the enormous level of need created by the widespread flooding, it is essential for rich countries like Scotland to show leadership by supporting the humanitarian response.”
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For more information please contact Rebecca Lozza, Media and Communications Officer, Oxfam Scotland, on 0141 285 8875 / 07880785159 or RLozza1@Oxfam.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
- The Scottish Government’s £1 million Humanitarian Emergency Fund, launched in April 2017, is intended to provide immediate, life-saving aid in the aftermath of a crisis. Oxfam Scotland was selected as a member of the expert panel which advises the Scottish Government on how the fund should be spent.
- The funding will be allocated to members of the Humanitarian Emergency Fund following an assessment process.