IDPD assists flood victims

by Arun Mitra, IDPD General Secretary

Sending medical supplies by ropeway over the flooded Ganges

The Uttrakhand state in the Himalayas, in North India, had flash floods in June. The disaster was so high that the government estimates deaths of about 4,000 people, while unofficial figures claim more than 25,000 people have died.

IPPNW’s Indian affiliate—Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD)—took a medical relief team to the disaster-affected area on 7 July and stayed there for a week. The situation was so bad that we had to climb up the hills 7-8 kilometers or cross the Ganges river on ropeways carrying medicines with us to reach the affected people. There were constant landslides and at one place we were stranded for nine hours. Somehow we were successful and have returned safe.

In context of this experience, our commitment  for a nuclear-weapon-free world is further strengthened, as we will not be able to provide any relief should nuclear weapons ever be used.

Arun Mitra (right) led an IDPD team to flood-ravaged Uttrakhand

Assisting flood victims in Uttrakhand was challenging; medical and humanitarian relief for the victims of nuclear war would be impossible.