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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Battle for S Asia flood victims | Battle for S Asia flood victims |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Aid workers are battling to supply food and water to millions of increasingly desperate flood victims in South Asia. | Aid workers are battling to supply food and water to millions of increasingly desperate flood victims in South Asia. |
| Clashes were reported over food drops in the worst hit area, India's state of Bihar where 11 million are affected. | Clashes were reported over food drops in the worst hit area, India's state of Bihar where 11 million are affected. |
| In Bangladesh, many people were in need of urgent assistance, the United Nations World Food Programme said. | In Bangladesh, many people were in need of urgent assistance, the United Nations World Food Programme said. |
| Water levels in some north Indian rivers are now receding but at least 240 people are known to have died across the region. | Water levels in some north Indian rivers are now receding but at least 240 people are known to have died across the region. |
| More than 20 million people have been affected across areas of northern India, Bangladesh and Nepal. | More than 20 million people have been affected across areas of northern India, Bangladesh and Nepal. |
| Living outdoors | Living outdoors |
| Bihar's disaster management chief, Manoj Srivastava, told the AFP news agency more than 6,000 villages had been flooded and 11.5m people affected, with at least two million living outdoors. | Bihar's disaster management chief, Manoj Srivastava, told the AFP news agency more than 6,000 villages had been flooded and 11.5m people affected, with at least two million living outdoors. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| There were reports of clashes over small packets of food handed out by aid agencies in villages and looting of other food supplies. | There were reports of clashes over small packets of food handed out by aid agencies in villages and looting of other food supplies. |
| Bihar officials have blamed Nepal over the water levels | Bihar officials have blamed Nepal over the water levels |
| One villager in eastern Bihar reportedly drowned trying to retrieve an aid package. | One villager in eastern Bihar reportedly drowned trying to retrieve an aid package. |
| Mr Srivastava said helicopters were being used to drop food supplies to try to combat the rioting. | Mr Srivastava said helicopters were being used to drop food supplies to try to combat the rioting. |
| Many villagers have not had supplies for days while rescuers said they had had little rest since the flooding began. | Many villagers have not had supplies for days while rescuers said they had had little rest since the flooding began. |
| Bhagwan Manjhi from Bihar's East Champaran district told local television: "We are surviving on snails as we have nothing to eat." | Bhagwan Manjhi from Bihar's East Champaran district told local television: "We are surviving on snails as we have nothing to eat." |
| Bihar and Nepal have clashed over who is responsible for the water levels. | Bihar and Nepal have clashed over who is responsible for the water levels. |
| Officials in Bihar accused Nepal of failing to build dams to control Himalayan water. | Officials in Bihar accused Nepal of failing to build dams to control Himalayan water. |
| But an MP in Nepal, Purna Kumari Subedi, blamed a dam built in India at Laxmanpur, telling AFP that it should be destroyed. | But an MP in Nepal, Purna Kumari Subedi, blamed a dam built in India at Laxmanpur, telling AFP that it should be destroyed. |
| Although rains have generally eased, water levels coming down from Nepal are unlikely to lower soon, officials said. | Although rains have generally eased, water levels coming down from Nepal are unlikely to lower soon, officials said. |
| 'Big respite' | 'Big respite' |
| Levels have lowered in areas such as Assam but officials said they were worried about an outbreak of disease as waters receded and temperatures soared. | Levels have lowered in areas such as Assam but officials said they were worried about an outbreak of disease as waters receded and temperatures soared. |
| Officials in Uttar Pradesh said they expected the situation to get better soon. | Officials in Uttar Pradesh said they expected the situation to get better soon. |
| THE ASIAN MONSOON Monsoon winds blow north-easterly for one half of the year, and from the south-west for the other halfSouth-westerly winds bring the heavy rains from June to SeptWinds arrive in southern India six weeks before the north westAnnual rainfall varies considerably What is the monsoon? class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6933033.stm">In pictures: Bangladesh flood | |
| "Water levels in three rivers - Ghagra, Rapti and Gandak - have started receding. Water levels in other rivers have also either started receding or are constant," Mahindra Awasthi, a spokesman for the Central Water Commission in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state, told the Associated Press news agency. | "Water levels in three rivers - Ghagra, Rapti and Gandak - have started receding. Water levels in other rivers have also either started receding or are constant," Mahindra Awasthi, a spokesman for the Central Water Commission in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "If this trend continues it will give a big respite to the millions of marooned people," he said. | "If this trend continues it will give a big respite to the millions of marooned people," he said. |
| Tens of thousands are still homeless in India's eastern Orissa state, officials said. | Tens of thousands are still homeless in India's eastern Orissa state, officials said. |
| In Bangladesh, the UN's World Food Programme has been distributing emergency aid to flood-hit areas. | In Bangladesh, the UN's World Food Programme has been distributing emergency aid to flood-hit areas. |
| The agency estimated that one million people had been directly affected and some were in need of urgent assistance. | The agency estimated that one million people had been directly affected and some were in need of urgent assistance. |
| In Nepal, many roads in the flooded areas have been cut and bridges have been washed away. | In Nepal, many roads in the flooded areas have been cut and bridges have been washed away. |
| It is proving hard for aid agencies and the government to bring help. | It is proving hard for aid agencies and the government to bring help. |
| They have distributed food supplies to some communities, but many people who are still living in damaged mud and thatched homes complain it is not enough. | They have distributed food supplies to some communities, but many people who are still living in damaged mud and thatched homes complain it is not enough. |
| Return | Return |