In the aftermath of the devastating flooding and landslides that swept through the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Amma has announced a $4 million US relief package.
In the month of September 2014, the regions of Jammu and Kashmir were hit by destructive flooding caused by torrential rainfall. We quickly responded, sending volunteers to the affected areas to directly assess the damage and meet with government officials to understand in what way we could provide aid. Nearly 300 people have died in the area, as many as 350 villages have been completely submerged and countless buildings damaged. Due to the layers of silt left on the fields from the receding flood waters, agriculture – the main source of livelihood in the area – will be disrupted for a year or more.
Within days of their arrival, our volunteers started to initiate essential aid, including providing school kits for children affected by the flood.
On September 27th 2014, as part of Amma’s 61st birthday celebrations, she announced a $4 million relief and rehabilitation package for survivors of the devastating floods. India’s Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh formally launched the relief package, and on October 6th, he flagged off our mobile telemedicine units as they left Delhi for the disaster zone. Hailing Amma as a humanitarian icon, the minister stated that the Indian government will make every effort to support our relief work to ensure a coordinated operation.
Our team of 15 medical experts will provide emergency as well as specialized medical care and distribute badly needed vaccines. We are also bringing a veterinary team to treat injured livestock and mitigate the economic fallout from the disaster.
As part of the relief efforts, we will also construct houses for those displaced by the disaster, as well as provide monetary aid for widows, medical care and essential supplies. The package takes forward our long history of humanitarian intervention in the wake of natural disasters.
