Latter-day Saints make sacrifices to relieve flood victims
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October annually brings typhoons and other severe storms to South Asia, and this year was no exception. The worst flooding in several decades devastated southern India during October, hitting the provinces of Karnakata and Andhra Pradesh particularly hard. More than 200 people were reported dead, and more than a million local residents had to take temporary refuge in state-run shelters and relief camps.
To help the victims, priesthood leaders in the area were eager to provide the needed assistance from the resources of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and also the willing efforts of the local Mormons. Accordingly, the first weekend after the storms abated, President Prasad Rao Gudey of the Hyderabad India District organized the members of the district to help. He was able to bring an entire bus load of priesthood holders to the city of Kurnool to assist those who had been impacted by the storms and flooding. Hyderabad is approximately four hours north of the flood zone, so the travel efforts were significant.
After arriving, the members took charge of the distribution of the goods and materials that had been provided by the Church and several other relief organizations, but which were not being sent to the people in need due to the lack of an organized plan and process for doing so.
According to President Gudey, "Our young men did a wonderful work in delivering food and water to those in need; the goods had been donated and had arrived in the province, but the government had no ability to deliver them to the victims. There were thousands who were waiting for relief, but it was not being provided until we came.
"Among the large numbers of victims housed in the camps, our members stood out with their Mormon Helping Hands vests as they carried out their efficient work in getting the food and water to everyone."
The Hyderabad members also sorted clothing that had been delivered but was not properly sorted and then made the long journey back home.
The following week, members of the Bangalore India District organized all of the youth and young single adults to assemble hygiene kits for the flood victims, and approximately 60 members traveled to several villages in northern Karnakata Province to deliver them to the people in the refugee camps there and provide a day of service.
The Indian government had more than 200 relief camps at the height of the flood evacuation. There was concern for the protection from disease for the thousands who were temporarily forced to occupy those camps, so the hygiene kits were very important to the overall relief effort.
The Church also provided through LDS Charities a supply of blankets and tarps that were badly needed for shelter by those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the flood waters. Members also assisted in distribution of these goods in both Andhra Pradesh and Karnakata Provinces.
LDS Charities is continuing to monitor the needs of the victims of this major disaster and is working with the Indian government and also the International Red Cross and other relief organizations that operate in India, and will respond to additional needs as they arise in the coming weeks and months.
