MSF are providing humanitarian assistance to people in the worst affected districts of Araria and Supaul, Bihar State. One month after the Kosi river broke through its embankment, thousands remain homeless and destitute. Here, victims tell their stories.
Bishan Rish Dive
Bishan in Koskapur settlement. India, 2008.
Photo by Veronique Terrasse
“I’m here with my mother. I have three children and I’m a widower. We’ve lost everything and we are just waiting in this shelter until we can go back. The water began rising in the middle of the night. I had never seen anything like it. It rose up to five feet in some places. Some people had mobile phones and they called to warn us. We lack everything now and we don’t get enough medicines when we get sick. It will remain flooded for several months and we can’t work our fields anymore. In my village everyone was safe, but many died on the other side of the river. No one knows how
many”. Bishan is 40-years-old. He is from Koskapur and
is currently staying in Raniganj camp, Araria district.
Tareia Dive
Tereia in Koskapur settlement. India, 2008.
Veronique Terrasse
“We left our house when the water rose. The whole village was flooded. The army helped us with their boats and we came here. My house has been destroyed along with the crops and food. People stayed three days on the roof of the orphanage without food or water, waiting to be rescued. There are around 300 to 400 people in this camp now. I came with my five children and we’ve received food from the government. My baby got sick with diarrhoea. It’s very difficult for the children and us”. Tareia is 30-years-old. She is from Koskapur and is currently staying in Raniganj camp, Araria district.
Nitesh in Chuni, Supaul. India, 2008.
Photo by Veronique Terrasse
Nitesh Shain
“Our village was totally flooded. We lost everything,
including wheat, crops and rice. There are only three or four houses left… Now we can’t plough because the paddy fields are inundated. I don’t know what we will do.
We couldn’t save any food or any clothes. We received plastic sheeting and items like containers from MSF but we haven’t received anything from the government. Food packets were airdropped but it’s still not enough. We need more food, clothes and drugs. My wife was sick so she went to see the MSF doctors. She had headaches, stomach pains, fever and diarrhoea for two or three days”. Nitesh is 60-years-old. He is currently staying in Chuni camp, Supaul district.
Manbhar Sharma
Manbhar in Raniganj, Araria. India, 2008.
Photo by Veronique Terrasse
“We had to walk for a long time before we reached dry land and we were scared because there are many snakes in the water and the current can be strong. We couldn’t bring any food. The government has been providing a bit of food here, mainly aloo, dhal and grains, but we’re never sure when the next distribution will be. The government doctors come here from time to time but we lack drugs. In the camp, we are surrounded by water, there are mosquitoes, and it’s dirty and very crammed. There is no clean water and people are sick with fever, headache, body pains and diarrhoea. Until MSF came, we had no plastic sheeting and we hadn’t received anything apart from food… Now people have a plastic roof above their heads”. Manbhar is 55-years-old. He is from Badhatepur and is currently staying in Raniganj camp, Araria district.
Yadu in Chuni, Supaul. India, 2008.
Photo by Veronique Terrasse
Yadu Handan Poddar
“It was scary. The floods began at night and within 48 hours the water rose high and the current was strong. The children were sleeping. There was a storm and everyone tried to escape in a panic. They ran, swam, climbed onto their roofs or up trees, or if possible tried to walk to dry land. In some of the villages, people stayed on their roofs for a very long time. The army has rescued many villagers and brought them to Chuni, this camp. Here we have a food distribution centre and we can cook the food that has been airdropped. There are thousands of families waiting here now”. Yadu is currently staying in Chuni camp, Supaul district.