Save the Children: Children living on highways to escape Bihar floods killed by traffic

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Monday, 01, Sep 2008 12:00

Children sheltering near highways after they fled their homes to escape rising floodwaters are being killed by high-speed vehicles, according to Save the Children’s emergency response teams in northern India.

Local indian aid agencies working with Save the Children have reported that every two days a displaced child dies after being hit by traffic. Most of the relief camps set up to house people who have been forced to leave their homes are near highways, which are often built on higher ground.

Thomas Chandy, head of Save the Children in India said: “It is devastating that these children’s lives have been lost and countless more are at risk because they are living in such a dangerous place. Our volunteers in the relief camps are working hard to alert children and parents to the dangers of wandering on to the highway while playing. This clearly points to the urgent need to create safe spaces for children within the relief camps."

Meanwhile the water level in the Kosi river has risen by another 2.5 feet after fresh water was released from the Kosi barrage. At the same time rainfall is continuing in Nepal. Teams in the worst-affected areas are reporting that some of the relief camps, including one housing 7,000 people in Sursar, Araria district, may be submerged.

“The situation is catastrophic,” Mr Chandy continued. “Save the Children believes that around three million children have already been affected by these floods. The area that is flooded is growing every day and more and more children and their families are at risk of losing their homes.”

Save the Children has rushed a team of experienced relief workers to the region and is working in some of the main relief camps in Araria, one of the worst affected districts in Bihar, distributing cooked food, clean drinking water, tarpaulins and children’s clothes.

For more information or to make a donation please visit www.savethechildren.org.uk or call 020 7012 6844.

ENDS

Save the Children has spokespeople available in London and India. For more information and interviews, please contact the Save the Children media unit:

In London: Kathryn Rawe, Media Manager (Asia) on 020 7012 6841 or out of hours on 07831 650409 or email k.rawe@savethechildren.org.uk

In New Delhi: Anuradha C. Maharishi on +91 9811626122 or a.maharishi@savethechildren.in

Notes to Editors:

· The International Save the Children Alliance fights for children's rights and deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children's lives. Save the Children has existed in India since pre-independence days and is currently working in 11 states and union territories of India.

· For more information about Save the Children, please visit the website: www.savethechildren.org.uk