Unbound Families And Staff Experience Significant Losses In Chennai Flood
Kansas City, Kan. (PRWEB) December 15, 2015 -- Floodwaters in Chennai, India, are receding and a massive relief effort is underway for the 4.6 million people on India’s southern coast.
"We are battling with one of the worst floods in the history [of Chennai],” Seema Mohan Kumar, coordinator for Unbound in Chennai, said at the height of the flooding last week. “Several areas are submerged and leaving a trail of destruction. Thousands of families are stranded and we are not even able to reach them."
Unbound, a humanitarian organization working in 20 countries, serves more than 3,200 children, their families and elders through a program based in Chennai.
"Please support us in our relief efforts," Seema said.
The staff is assessing needs as floodwaters recede and they are able to reach communities that weren't accessible during the worst of the flooding. While there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries among families served by Unbound, families who lost their homes and possessions will need financial support as they rebuild, Seema said. Unbound assists families in natural disasters through donations to Disaster Response.
Unbound staff members have also been affected. One staffer said floodwaters reached the second floor where she lives, and she was relying on packets of bread dropped by Indian navy helicopters for food.
Further complicating matters, the ground floor of Unbound's office in Chennai was submerged in floodwaters. Child records, mothers group files, computers and other office equipment were destroyed.
Schools and universities reopened this week after being closed for more than a month. Many students lost books and school supplies in the floods.
With the help of Unbound’s Disaster Response, families can start replacing their children's schoolbooks and supplies, among other necessities they’ve lost, and start to rebuild their homes and their lives.
About Unbound
Unbound is the largest nonprofit organization in Kansas with more than $120 million in annual revenue. Unbound works side by side with people of diverse faiths in 20 countries, bringing people together to challenge poverty in new and innovative ways.
Unbound distributes direct aid as quickly and efficiently as possible to people who need it. 92.5 percent of Unbound's expenses go toward program support.
Erica Braker, Unbound, http://www.unbound.org, +1 785-393-9171, [email protected]
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