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| S Asia millions face flood hunger | S Asia millions face flood hunger |
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| Millions of people across South Asia are still facing hunger after some of the worst floods in decades, amid fears of disease and fights over supplies. | Millions of people across South Asia are still facing hunger after some of the worst floods in decades, amid fears of disease and fights over supplies. |
| Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Congress party head Sonia Gandhi were due to visit the worst-hit region on Tuesday as anger rose over aid efforts. | Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Congress party head Sonia Gandhi were due to visit the worst-hit region on Tuesday as anger rose over aid efforts. |
| The floods have killed 360 and affected 20m in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. | The floods have killed 360 and affected 20m in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. |
| In Bihar state at least six people died when a boat capsized, but dozens more are feared to have drowned. | In Bihar state at least six people died when a boat capsized, but dozens more are feared to have drowned. |
| Water levels have lowered in Bangladesh and Nepal but there are rising concerns there of waterborne disease. | Water levels have lowered in Bangladesh and Nepal but there are rising concerns there of waterborne disease. |
| BBC correspondents say reports indicate more rain is now on the way and the flood season is likely to continue for several weeks. | BBC correspondents say reports indicate more rain is now on the way and the flood season is likely to continue for several weeks. |
| 'High gear' | 'High gear' |
| The biggest challenge for relief workers remains in Bihar. | The biggest challenge for relief workers remains in Bihar. |
| About 12m people are affected in the state, with hundreds of thousands still homeless or marooned, 10 days after the flooding first struck. | About 12m people are affected in the state, with hundreds of thousands still homeless or marooned, 10 days after the flooding first struck. |
| See a map of the flooded region | See a map of the flooded region |
| Bihar's relief official, Manoj Kumar Srivastava, said 880mm (34.5 inches) of rain had fallen in 15 days, but said relief efforts were now "in high gear". | Bihar's relief official, Manoj Kumar Srivastava, said 880mm (34.5 inches) of rain had fallen in 15 days, but said relief efforts were now "in high gear". |
| "The situation is under control and we are reaching difficult areas through air-drops," Mr Srivastava said. | "The situation is under control and we are reaching difficult areas through air-drops," Mr Srivastava said. |
| But there have been reports of fights over limited supplies and of local officials stealing them. | But there have been reports of fights over limited supplies and of local officials stealing them. |
| Many Bangladeshis have fled to higher ground | Many Bangladeshis have fled to higher ground |
| Saryug Sahri, from the village of Pali, told AFP: "We cannot feed our family members and all houses of our village have been swept away and we have no money, so where do we go?" | |
| Shauki Sani, from Majhouli village, said: "We have not received any relief or even a fistful of grains in the past 15 days." | |
| One senior official and a police chief in Darbhanga district were reportedly abducted by angry villagers and only released with promises of an aid distribution centre. | |
| Four helicopters have been making air-drops but locals and United Nations officials have said that is not enough. | Four helicopters have been making air-drops but locals and United Nations officials have said that is not enough. |
| Bihar's misery was compounded by the boat accident on the flood-swollen River Ganges on Monday. | Bihar's misery was compounded by the boat accident on the flood-swollen River Ganges on Monday. |
| About 100 people were travelling in the boat when it capsized midstream. | About 100 people were travelling in the boat when it capsized midstream. |
| About 30 people managed to swim to safety but six are confirmed dead and the rest missing. | About 30 people managed to swim to safety but six are confirmed dead and the rest missing. |
| State chief minister Nitish Kumar visited the scene and announced payments for the families of victims. | State chief minister Nitish Kumar visited the scene and announced payments for the families of victims. |
| He will accompany Mrs Gandhi, Mr Patil and other ministers on an aerial tour on Tuesday. | He will accompany Mrs Gandhi, Mr Patil and other ministers on an aerial tour on Tuesday. |
| Disease fears | Disease fears |
| One of the major problems is the safety of drinking water supplies, with many people being forced to drink polluted water. | One of the major problems is the safety of drinking water supplies, with many people being forced to drink polluted water. |
| 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? In pictures: Bangladesh flood Washed away in Nepal | 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? In pictures: Bangladesh flood Washed away in Nepal |
| LB Prasad, director general of health in the also-affected Uttar Pradesh state, said the risk of disease was high as wells had been contaminated. | LB Prasad, director general of health in the also-affected Uttar Pradesh state, said the risk of disease was high as wells had been contaminated. |
| He said more than 1,000 people had been reported sick in eastern districts. | He said more than 1,000 people had been reported sick in eastern districts. |
| Disease was also reported in southern Nepal. | Disease was also reported in southern Nepal. |
| Arjun Bahadur Singh, Nepal's health ministry spokesman, told AFP: "We are concerned about diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid. There is no shortage of medicine. However, highways are blocked, there is no transportation." | Arjun Bahadur Singh, Nepal's health ministry spokesman, told AFP: "We are concerned about diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid. There is no shortage of medicine. However, highways are blocked, there is no transportation." |
| Flooding has struck 33 of Nepal's 75 districts. | Flooding has struck 33 of Nepal's 75 districts. |
| The BBC's Mark Dummett in Kathmandu says waters are receding fast but they are leaving in their wake a landscape of damaged buildings, collapsed embankments, destroyed bridges and waterlogged fields. | The BBC's Mark Dummett in Kathmandu says waters are receding fast but they are leaving in their wake a landscape of damaged buildings, collapsed embankments, destroyed bridges and waterlogged fields. |
| Water levels are at the moment easing in Bangladesh after some 40% of the country was submerged by flooding, but affected areas are reporting severe food shortages. | Water levels are at the moment easing in Bangladesh after some 40% of the country was submerged by flooding, but affected areas are reporting severe food shortages. |
| The country's interim government has appealed to wealthy citizens and foreign nations to help supply aid. | The country's interim government has appealed to wealthy citizens and foreign nations to help supply aid. |
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