Save the Children: Food price rises new threat for flood-affected children in India

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Friday, 29, Aug 2008 12:00

Escalating prices for basic foods are creating a new risk for hundreds of thousands of children in northern India after the Kosi river dramatically changed course and flooded areas that were previously considered safe.

Thomas Chandy, Chief Executive of Save the Children in India, said: “We are alarmed by the rapid rise in prices of essentials like milk, which is now costing at least 10 times more than the usual price of 10 – 12 Rupees a litre. Bihar was already one of the poorest states in India before the flooding and these families who have been forced to leave their homes will be struggling to buy enough food to feed their children.”

Today, the Indian government declared a national emergency and the Prime Minister immediately allocated 1 billion rupees and 125,000 MT of food aid in the form of grain for the relief effort.

Save the Children is concerned that some people living in relief camps will not be able to use this grain as assessment teams have reported that many people have lost all their belongings including cooking utensils so have no way to prepare the food. Children may also not be able to benefit from these rations because they are not able to register to receive supplies and the food given out might not be suitable for younger children to eat.

Chandy continued: “Children need extra attention in an emergency because their particular needs can often be overlooked. Young children need special food that is suitable for them to eat to make sure they stay healthy. We need to make sure that vulnerable children who may have been separated from their parents are also able to get rations in relief camps.”

Save the Children is already responding to the flooding. An assessment team is on the ground today in Arraria and Saupal to get a first hand picture of the situation and the logistics required to ensure that the relief supplies reach the most vulnerable and the needy.

For more information or to make a donation please visit www.savethechildren.org.uk or call 020 7012 6400.

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