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| S Asia victims face health crisis | S Asia victims face health crisis |
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| Millions of people affected by flooding in South Asia face a health crisis unless relief work is urgently stepped up, the United Nations has warned. | Millions of people affected by flooding in South Asia face a health crisis unless relief work is urgently stepped up, the United Nations has warned. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef said stagnant waters were "a lethal breeding ground" for diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. | The World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef said stagnant waters were "a lethal breeding ground" for diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. |
| Food, drinking water and medicines are being distributed but the scale of the disaster has dwarfed relief efforts. | Food, drinking water and medicines are being distributed but the scale of the disaster has dwarfed relief efforts. |
| About 28m have been affected by the floods in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. | About 28m have been affected by the floods in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. |
| See a map of the flooded region | See a map of the flooded region |
| "Entire villages are days away from a health crisis if people are not reached in the coming days," said Unicef's health chief in India, Marzio Babille. | |
| 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: Flood relief 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: Flood relief Washed away in Nepal |
| "Stagnant waters left by the floods are a lethal breeding ground for diarrhoeal and waterborne disease at potential epidemic level." | "Stagnant waters left by the floods are a lethal breeding ground for diarrhoeal and waterborne disease at potential epidemic level." |
| Children, who make up 40% of South Asia's population, were particularly vulnerable, he said. | Children, who make up 40% of South Asia's population, were particularly vulnerable, he said. |
| India is the worst affected country, with some 20 million people in the states of Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh hit by the floods, according to the UN. | India is the worst affected country, with some 20 million people in the states of Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh hit by the floods, according to the UN. |
| Some eight million people are affected in Bangladesh and another 300,000 people in southern Nepal, the UN said. | Some eight million people are affected in Bangladesh and another 300,000 people in southern Nepal, the UN said. |
| Although water levels are receding in Nepal and Bangladesh, millions of people are still marooned on high ground. | Although water levels are receding in Nepal and Bangladesh, millions of people are still marooned on high ground. |
| Most water sources in affected areas are said to be either contaminated or submerged. | Most water sources in affected areas are said to be either contaminated or submerged. |
| Mr Babille told the BBC that an acute shortage of helicopters meant that the authorities in India were finding it difficult to reach victims, who have spent more than a week in the open, after their houses were either washed away or surrounded by water. | Mr Babille told the BBC that an acute shortage of helicopters meant that the authorities in India were finding it difficult to reach victims, who have spent more than a week in the open, after their houses were either washed away or surrounded by water. |
| Fights and theft | Fights and theft |
| There has been a brief pause in the rain but reports indicate more rain is on the way and the flood season is likely to continue for several weeks. | There has been a brief pause in the rain but reports indicate more rain is on the way and the flood season is likely to continue for several weeks. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The floods seem to be more ferocious and deadly than usual. Unfortunately the government still hasn't taken substantial steps to help victims Indranil, Delhi Send us your comments Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Congress party head Sonia Gandhi visited the worst-hit region, in Bihar state, on Tuesday as anger rose over aid efforts. | HAVE YOUR SAY The floods seem to be more ferocious and deadly than usual. Unfortunately the government still hasn't taken substantial steps to help victims Indranil, Delhi Send us your comments Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Congress party head Sonia Gandhi visited the worst-hit region, in Bihar state, on Tuesday as anger rose over aid efforts. |
| About seven million people are affected in the state, and there have been reports of fights over limited supplies and of local officials stealing them. | About seven million people are affected in the state, and there have been reports of fights over limited supplies and of local officials stealing them. |
| The UN said that in Bihar alone, it needed many more helicopters for relief operations and at least one million more oral rehydration sachets to alleviate diarrhoea. | The UN said that in Bihar alone, it needed many more helicopters for relief operations and at least one million more oral rehydration sachets to alleviate diarrhoea. |
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