(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) relief mission in India made a preliminary assessment of humanitarian conditions and urgent needs in the flood-stricken parts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and distributed relief assistance to some of the most-needy families, in coordination with Mother Helpage.
A delegation from the mission visited three districts of the state and selected a village in Pulwama district for urgent response, by distributing assistance to 300 families - rice, lentils, water, oil, spices, salt, and sugar.
They were also provided with bedcovers fitting six people per family, and hygiene kits.
The mission was planned to last one week, during which the team would coordinate with NGOs, examine the situation on the ground, and negotiate executive partnerships with organisations working there in case an immediate relief response was required.
However, it was extended for two days for relief distributions.
The group comprised three senior members of QRC's risk reduction team, including two Qatari female volunteers - Reema Al Merekhi (Head of mission) and Fatima Al Mohannadi - and Dr. Hassan Al Beiroumi, an assistant trainer of public health in disasters, health/environment writer, blogger, and academic researcher.
As the team arrived in New Delhi, it held meetings with Islamic Relief - India, Indo-Global Social Service Society, and Mother Helpage Worldwide.
The group then visited Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and the worst-hit region, with 80 percent of its land submerged by 12-14 feet high floods, which wiped out whole villages.
The mission toured the state, particularly medical facilities and relief camps.
Investigation efforts showed the magnitude of the disaster and its severe impact on the local communities.
Official figures show 300 reported deaths, but informal estimates raise the number to 1,000, in addition to 280 missing people.
The floods destroyed 67,934 homes, 12,553 roads and 30 bridges, hindering timely relief operations. All medical and educational facilities were damaged, and about 10 to 11 million people affected in 15 regions.
The humanitarian response priorities included: six-month food assistance after the crops were destroyed, domestic animals died, and food stock ran out at most households; non-food items including kitchenware, hygiene kits, mattresses, building and maintenance materials for partly damaged homes, and dewatering pumps; sheltering, particularly with the approach of snowfall, accumulating to form possibly 10 meter high blocs, as well as winter needs such as heavy clothes, heaters, and blankets; drinking water, as the water station was destroyed, rehabilitation of hospitals and supply of medicines; and sanitation services such as dewatering and garbage collection to prevent infections and waterborne diseases.
A survey by the mission found that a sheltering home costs $5,000, small village clinic $2,000 and mobile public toilet $300.
The state saw devastating floods considered the worst in six decades. Heavy rains for four days early in September caused landslides and flooded four rivers, submerging 420 villages and leaving 2,500 villages at risk.
Since the beginning of this month, South Asia has been swept by massive floods - in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.
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