Thursday, August 19, 2010

Humanitarian Appeal: Leh Flash Floods

SEEDS Donation page

Ten days since the Flash Flood in Leh, the death toll still continues to climb, and stands at 183. 400 people are still believed to be missing. The flash floods in the mountainous cold desert, washed away houses, schools, farms, bridges and with these, many lives as well. Villages within a 35 kilometres radius of Leh town and its neighboring settlements (Choglamsar, Phyang) has bore the brunt of the flash floods.


Aid agencies including SEEDS estimate that about 25,000 in the Leh region have been severely affected, particularly damage to houses.Though the relief work is taking priority right now, a very grave issue of concern is the short deadline that the government as well as NGOs have to help the people of Leh rebuild their homes. Being a high altitude, mountainous area with extreme weather conditions, once winter sets in around October, no construction activity will be possible and more families will be pushed to the edge.
 
SEEDS is presently engaged with HCC (Hindustan Construction Company) to restore lives and livelihood in Leh and neighbouring villages. Druk Padma Karpo school is being desilted and efforts are on to restart classes. A house prototype is also being built in the same location in view of the immediate need for housing.


SEEDS has set up “Safe House Clinics” that host mobile vans with material, structural engineers and construction workers to carry out reconstruction of damaged houses in the villages surrounding Leh like Choglamsar, Saspaul, Saspoche and Bazgo. Families can also approach the shelter clinic for restoration of damaged houses.

SEEDS is working on restoration of houses for 200 families before the first winter snowfall. The house prototype for appropriate technology that is culturally and environmentally suitable and safe is being constructed for local inputs.

SEEDS has already mobilized INR 20 Lakhs ($ 44000) from its own resource to steer the ground work for “Safe House Clinic” and “House Prototype”.

Every INR 1.5 lakhs raised ($ 3500 ) can help provide a house for the affected families. Support us to REBUILD LEH.

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