Silver Spring, Maryland--In response to severe flooding in several states in India, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency
(ADRA) is providing emergency kits to more than 2,000 residents in the hard-hit district of Jaisalmer in the state of Rajasthan, India.

One of the worst calamities to hit the state in decades, the late August floods were triggered by unusually heavy rains in the district of Barmer and adjoining districts of the desert fringe, which, according to Heriberto Muller, country director for ADRA India, received more than the whole season's quota of rain in just a few days. The heavy flooding affected 1,200 villages, leaving more than 100 dead and thousands homeless. Many lost their possessions and are in need of immediate provisions such as tarps, clothing, blankets, medicine, clean drinking water, and food.

ADRA is distributing emergency kits to 460 families, or approximately 2,300 flood survivors in the Jaisalmer District. The kits include essentials such as drinking water, dalia (broken wheat), flat rice, tarps, and blankets.
"The food kit provides the most essential and basic components of the diet in the region and is expected to last for two weeks, which will give survivors an opportunity to regain normalcy in their lives," says Muller.

ADRA is focusing the relief efforts on families whose homes were destroyed in the flooding, along with families with expectant mothers, children, and the elderly.

Rajasthan is the latest region to be affected by heavy flooding. In recent weeks, excessive flooding has also occurred in several other states in India, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa.

ADRA International, in partnership with the Southern Asia divisional office of Seventh-day Adventists, located in India, funded the $10,000 project.

ADRA was officially registered in India in 1992, and has been meeting the needs of her people through community development projects, basic health care, water and sanitation initiatives, and economic development programs.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.