Relief Team Delivers Supplies to Uttarakhand Flood Victims

After devastating floods in Uttarakhand on 16th and 17th June 2013, Believers Church Uttarakhand rushed to survey the affected area as soon as a route was open.

“A huge wall of water came at a huge intensity towards our town,” recounted a survivor. “Most people survived, but everything else was gone.”

The team decided to concentrate relief efforts on the local people who had lost their homes. Though several villages were completely cut off from communication, the Believers Church team climbed steep hills to invite people to come down and collect rations and relief materials the next week.

Returning to the Believers Church Uttarakhand headquarters, they gathered two truckloads of relief materials. The team headed back to the flood-affected area despite the threat of heavy rains. Narrow roads and landslides posed difficulties, but the team managed to reach their destination the next day.

On 27th June, people from more than 10 villages and colonies gathered to receive relief supplies. Each packet of items included rice (25 kg), dal (5 kg), atta (10 kg), sugar (5 kg), sujee (2 kg), salt (1 kg), potatoes (5 kg), onions (2 kg), soybeans (1 kg), masala (500 gm), oil (2 L), candles (48) , a matchbox, first aid kit, tarpaulin (20’ by 20’), raincoat, blanket and set of vessels. The distribution benefited around 200 families.

“We have enough things to last us for a month,” said one villager. “We don’t have to worry now until further help comes later.”

Local MLA Shaila Rani Rawat came to the distribution and thanked the church for its help. The local village head also commended the church’s work, saying, “No other group had done for the area as much as Believers Church. We have been blessed that you have come.”

This is just one example of how Believers Church responds to natural disasters with practical help and supplies.