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Tibetans join hands in Bihar flood rescue effort

By Lobsang Wangyal

Indian flood-affected villagers wade through floodwaters in Supaul in Bihar in eastern India during the recent floods. Efforts to rescue tens of thousands of villagers in northern India still cut off by a monsoon-swollen river have entered a critical stage, aid workers and evacuees say.AFP/India

The Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamshala, have requested Tibetans living in exile to raise donations for the flood victims of Bihar to show their sympathy and concern.

Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest Tibetan non-governmental organisation, has set up a Bihar Flood Relief Team to coordinate relief efforts and provide support to those affected by the disaster.

The Tibetan team of volunteers will help rehabilitate the flood victims by rebuilding houses and communities, and providing other assistance. The organisation has requested its regional chapters to collect clothes, blankets, food items and donations.

Lhakpa Tsering, a member of TYC, said that 15 to 20 TYC members will go to Bihar to help rebuild one village. The Dalai Lama had earlier donated 10 lakh rupees (10,00,000 Indian rupees, $25,000 approx).

The exile government has asked Tibetans to donate through the Bureau Office in Delhi by 30 September 2008. The donations will be sent to the Bihar Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Reports say 1,100 square kilometres (420 square miles) of land has been badly hit and at least 300,000 homes destroyed by the floods.

The monsoon rains have also caused flooding in the northeastern Indian state of Assam by waters of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries.

About 1.5 million people are believed to have displaced in Assam, and the overall situation continue to remain critical.

Downstream, Bangladesh is also sufferring from the flooding of the Bramaputra river.

Copyright © 2008 Tibet Sun

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