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Uncertainty in India flood camp | Uncertainty in India flood camp |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Asha Devi is among those who fled the floods - she paid $5 for a lift on a tractor | |
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reports from Purnea in the Indian state of Bihar where the river Kosi changed course after a dam upstream in neighbouring Nepal burst its banks in monsoon rains. | |
Outside the Bageecha relief camp in Purnea, Bihar, there is confusion. | Outside the Bageecha relief camp in Purnea, Bihar, there is confusion. |
A line of small trucks and vans carrying relief material have parked on the highway - scores of volunteers, dressed in white, are milling around. | A line of small trucks and vans carrying relief material have parked on the highway - scores of volunteers, dressed in white, are milling around. |
They have just brought several tonnes of aid - but are not quite sure how to distribute it. | They have just brought several tonnes of aid - but are not quite sure how to distribute it. |
There is apparently no camp co-ordinator, no-one from the government. | There is apparently no camp co-ordinator, no-one from the government. |
It is symptomatic of what is happening across Bihar's flood-affected areas. | It is symptomatic of what is happening across Bihar's flood-affected areas. |
God knows if my house is still standing Janardhan Rishidev Indian floods cut off thousands | God knows if my house is still standing Janardhan Rishidev Indian floods cut off thousands |
"We have driven several hours to get here," says Anil Chowdhury, whose cap identifies him as belonging to the Lions' Club of Khagaria. | "We have driven several hours to get here," says Anil Chowdhury, whose cap identifies him as belonging to the Lions' Club of Khagaria. |
"We've made up bundles of supplies with rice, sugar, matches and candles. | "We've made up bundles of supplies with rice, sugar, matches and candles. |
"Since the government has unable to provide for these people, we've decided to step in." | "Since the government has unable to provide for these people, we've decided to step in." |
The lucky ones | The lucky ones |
Inside camp Bageecha there is more confusion. | Inside camp Bageecha there is more confusion. |
Several hundred families have arrived here over the past five days. | Several hundred families have arrived here over the past five days. |
The shelter they have been provided is modest - bamboo staves hammered into the ground with a plastic sheet roof to keep out the rain. | The shelter they have been provided is modest - bamboo staves hammered into the ground with a plastic sheet roof to keep out the rain. |
Conditions in the camp are far from ideal | Conditions in the camp are far from ideal |
There is one hand pump for all of them to use to wash themselves. | There is one hand pump for all of them to use to wash themselves. |
On one corner, several men are stirring large cauldrons of lentils and rice. It may not seem much, but for many here it is their first cooked meal in days. | On one corner, several men are stirring large cauldrons of lentils and rice. It may not seem much, but for many here it is their first cooked meal in days. |
So despite the abysmal conditions, everyone here knows they are the lucky ones who got away. | So despite the abysmal conditions, everyone here knows they are the lucky ones who got away. |
"This is how high the water reached," says Janardhan Rishidev, holding his hands waist high. | "This is how high the water reached," says Janardhan Rishidev, holding his hands waist high. |
"When it started rising further, I knew it was time to leave. We packed a few things quickly, and placed the rest of our belongings on high shelves in our home. | "When it started rising further, I knew it was time to leave. We packed a few things quickly, and placed the rest of our belongings on high shelves in our home. |
"Then we fled. God knows if my house is still standing." | "Then we fled. God knows if my house is still standing." |
Playing in dirt | Playing in dirt |
Like most people here, Janardhan waded several hours through the flood waters, holding a small bundle of his valued possessions on his head. | Like most people here, Janardhan waded several hours through the flood waters, holding a small bundle of his valued possessions on his head. |
Asha Devi and her husband Ram were slightly luckier. Along with their children they climbed on to the back of a tractor and drove out. | Asha Devi and her husband Ram were slightly luckier. Along with their children they climbed on to the back of a tractor and drove out. |
At a price - they paid the driver 200 rupees ($5) for the ride. | At a price - they paid the driver 200 rupees ($5) for the ride. |
"We hadn't eaten a proper meal in four days. My children were crying every day. At least here we've had some hot food." | "We hadn't eaten a proper meal in four days. My children were crying every day. At least here we've had some hot food." |
There appears to be a disproportionately high number of children at this camp - most of them unclothed, playing in the dirt. | There appears to be a disproportionately high number of children at this camp - most of them unclothed, playing in the dirt. |
There are no medical supplies here, or any doctors. But still everyone is grateful to have got out alive. | There are no medical supplies here, or any doctors. But still everyone is grateful to have got out alive. |
Sitaram is 85, and managed to come here only because his sons carried him on their back. | Sitaram is 85, and managed to come here only because his sons carried him on their back. |
He squats outside his tent, smoking. | He squats outside his tent, smoking. |
"Many people were left behind," he says in a hoarse whisper, leaning forward. | "Many people were left behind," he says in a hoarse whisper, leaning forward. |
"Old people whose children left them behind. I was lucky, my sons love me." | "Old people whose children left them behind. I was lucky, my sons love me." |
Plenty of goodwill | Plenty of goodwill |
But there is an air of restlessness as well. | But there is an air of restlessness as well. |
Many of the villagers are concerned that eventually somebody will ask them to leave, or the supplies will run out. | Many of the villagers are concerned that eventually somebody will ask them to leave, or the supplies will run out. |
"We need to go back," says Asha Devi. | "We need to go back," says Asha Devi. |
"We've lived off our land and that's the only way we'll survive. But how do we go back? When everything is under water, what will we do - swim?" | "We've lived off our land and that's the only way we'll survive. But how do we go back? When everything is under water, what will we do - swim?" |
No-one has the answer to these questions, quite simply because there is no-one from the authorities here. | No-one has the answer to these questions, quite simply because there is no-one from the authorities here. |
No government representative has been here to visit. Some international aid workers came by, but they have now left. | No government representative has been here to visit. Some international aid workers came by, but they have now left. |
Outside camp Bageecha, it is complete gridlock. | Outside camp Bageecha, it is complete gridlock. |
Several aid trucks have blocked the road unsure of whether to pull to the side or move on ahead. | Several aid trucks have blocked the road unsure of whether to pull to the side or move on ahead. |
There are no policemen, so a couple of volunteers decide to sort out the chaos. | There are no policemen, so a couple of volunteers decide to sort out the chaos. |
"Where's the government?" asks one volunteer angrily. "They should be here taking charge, instead they've left it to us." | "Where's the government?" asks one volunteer angrily. "They should be here taking charge, instead they've left it to us." |
There is plenty of goodwill here and quite a bit of misplaced enthusiasm. | There is plenty of goodwill here and quite a bit of misplaced enthusiasm. |
It is just not clear whether they are all aiding the relief effort or hindering it. | It is just not clear whether they are all aiding the relief effort or hindering it. |