New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) Strengthening its water, sanitation and public health support in flood-affected villages in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Oxfam India has started distributing hygiene kits to the survivors of the devastating floods.
These kits, which include buckets, bathing soaps, detergent powder and sanitary napkins, will be distributed to 9,000 households in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and about 4,000 households in Bagalkot in Karnataka.

“Water and sanitation continue to be one of the major needs of the flood affected people as they are forced to live in bad sanitary conditions,” said Nisha Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oxfam India.

She said though government and other agencies, which are working in the area, have been distributing food and other non-food items but there hasn’t been much stress on improving hygiene of those places where people are living.

“Improving hygiene is important to prevent water borne diseases at the individual household level,” she added.

The NGO, which has over 200 projects throughout the country, has been working in the flood affected areas and are focusing on ensuring safe drinking water for the people.

The rain and flood havoc that began Sep 30 in the northern districts of Karnataka and moved to engulf neighbouring areas in Andhra Pradesh have so far claimed around 260 lives and left millions homeless.

Zubin Zaman, Humanitarian Response Manager, said: “The immediate need is a temporary shelter, at least for families whose houses are fully damaged until the permanent shelter is made.”

“The government should ensure the supply of drinking water through tankers until the regular drinking water sources in the villages are repaired,” he said.

He said that although the government is making massive efforts to restore the water supply infrastructure the need for safe drinking water still outweighs the supply.

“The devastating floods have left women and children most vulnerable. Whereas women have issues related to their privacy and health, children are also vulnerable to public health risks,” he said.