SINGAPORE, 6 July 2022 – Mercy Relief, Singapore’s leading independent disaster relief agency, is responding to the South Asia flash floods that have struck the north-eastern districts of Bangladesh and India.
Due to continuous heavy rainfall since 17 May 2022, the north-eastern districts of Sylhet and Sunamganj in Bangladesh and the state of Assam in India have been experiencing flash floods and landslides that have affected more than 7 million people in the two countries combined.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) in Bangladesh, within a month, 94 percent of Sylhet and 84 percent of Sunamganj were submerged. With major regional highways and access roads underwater, connectivity and transport to the affected areas have been blocked, resulting in a delay in assistance. Even though officials have said that the main flood situation is improving gradually, they still worry and are bracing themselves for a rapid spread of water-borne diseases and are in urgent need of clean drinking water for people stranded in their homes. Telecommunication operators have gone into emergency mode, trying to restore their networks in hopes of helping restore swift communications thereby enabling authorities to provide much needed assistance.
In India, as of 16 June, the Brahmaputra River has been flowing above the danger level and approximately 1.1 million people across 35 districts in the affected state of Assam have been gravely affected. About 145,700 individuals have been evacuated to relief camps, while more than 121,200 houses have been damaged or destroyed completely. Efforts by the local authorities are underway, however, due to the heavy rainfall, highways, roads and bridges around the worst-hit regions remain closed off as a result of landslides and rising water levels. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that several units of the National Disaster Response Force were rushed to Silchar to carry out rescue operations as the situation worsened by virtue of the severity of the rising water levels in the Barak and Kushiyara river.
Mercy Relief has sent a team to Bangladesh and will be working alongside our ground partner, Human Aid Bangladesh Foundation (HABF), to provide and distribute emergency relief assistance in the form of food and medical aid to the worst affected and most vulnerable families in the Sunamganj district. As for the affected regions in India, Mercy Relief will be working closely with our ground partner North-East Affected Area Developmental Society (NEADS), remotely.
“Our thoughts are with the people and families affected by the flash floods in India and Bangladesh,” Angelina Ong, Executive Director of Mercy Relief. “It is deeply concerning to see so many left stranded without a home, and it is our duty to help those in need to provide emergency relief aid so that the survivors are empowered to continue with their lives as smoothly as they can. Mercy Relief will continue to work closely with our ground partners to supply the necessary help to all in need.”
Mercy Relief will establish a public fundraising appeal in Singapore from 6 July 2022 – 6 August 2022 and aims to raise $50,000 for response operations. Members of the public may make their donations via the following channels:
- Crowdfunding via:
- Giving.sg for/under “South Asia Flood Relief 2022”: https://www.giving.sg/mercy-relief/southasiafloodrelief2022
- Give.asia for/under “South Asia Flood Relief 2022”: https://give.asia/campaign/south-asia-flood-relief-2022#/
- SimplyGivingfor/under “South Asia Flood Relief 2022”: https://www.simplygiving.com/appeal/southasiafloodrelief2022
- Credit card donation via Mercy Relief’s website: https://www.mercyrelief.org/donate/
- Fund transfer to Mercy Relief’s DBS Current Account 054-900742-0.
- Please indicate “South Asia Flood Relief 2022” in the comments field.
- Crossed cheque made out to “Mercy Relief Limited” and mailed to Blk 160 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568 Singapore 310160. On the back of the cheque please write:
- “South Asia Flood Relief 2022”
- Name of donor
- Email address
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about South Asia Flood Relief 2022
Thank you for supporting our South Asia Flood Relief 2022.
We are committed to serving those in need during the disaster’s emergency phase. We seek your patience and kind understanding with regards to the promptness of our responses to your queries about Mercy Relief’s operations in Bangladesh and India.
This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document contains answers to common questions about our current disaster relief efforts for the South Asia Floods and details on how you can contribute to ongoing initiatives. The information below might already answer some of your existing questions, if you have more, feel free to get in touch with us via our *link: contact page.
Background
Prolonged rainfall since 17 May 2022 has resulted in calamitous flash floods and landslides in the north-eastern regions of Bangladesh and India. State officials in the hardest-hit Sylhet district of Bangladesh have called it the worst flooding in over 100 years.
We need your help!
Without your donations, we would not be able to continue our work to assist the displaced communities on their road to recovery.
No donation is too small and every dollar contributes to saving lives.
Your help can go a long way, donate now.
Impact as of 23 June 2022
Deaths: 393
Displaced: approximately 160,000 (158,331)
Affected: approximately 8 million (7.9 million)
Immediate Relief Efforts
Q1: What initiatives are carried out by Mercy Relief in response to the flash floods in Bangladesh and India ?
A: Mercy Relief will be distributing food items, hygiene kits and non-food items as well as providing medical assistance to the worst affected and most vulnerable families. Stay up-to-date with our latest news via our Facebook and Instagram pages!
Donations
Q2: What is Mercy Relief’s main fundraising campaign for the South Asia Flood Relief 2022?
A: Mercy Relief has applied for a public fundraising permit to raise funds in Singapore to support relief efforts in both Bangladesh and India from 6 July 2022 – 6 August 2022.
Q3: How can I donate?
A: Donations can be made through the following channels:
- Via our crowdfunding campaign on Giving.sg, Give.asia and SimplyGiving
- Funds transfer to Mercy Relief’s DBS Current Account 054-900742-0. In the Bill Reference field, please state “South Asia Flood Relief 2022“.
- Credit Card donation via Mercy Relief’s website: https://www.mercyrelief.org/donate/
- Cross cheque to Mercy Relief Limited with “South Asia Flood Relief 2022” and your email address written on the back of the cheque, and mail to Blk 160 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160.
- Cash donations at Blk 160 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160.
Q4: Will I receive tax exemption for donation to the South Asia Flood Relief 2022?
A: Donations for overseas purposes are not tax-deductible. Tax exemption is allowed for donations to an IPC (Institutions of a Public Character) for its local facilities and programs. Tax exemption is not allowed to the IPC if the donations are for foreign charitable purposes.
Q5: What percentage of these donations will be channelled to the South Asia Flood Relief 2022?
A: Mercy Relief retains no more than 5% in administrative fees for all fundraising campaigns or public appeals for overseas relief.
Q6: How are the funds used? As a donor, how can I be assured that the funds are directed exclusively to the South Asia Flood Relief 2022?
A: The donated funds will go towards providing essential survival needs such as food, hygiene kits and non-food items during this acute relief phase for the affected communities.
All funds raised for the South Asia Flood Relief 2022 will be utilised solely for humanitarian efforts supporting the affected population.
Donors will also receive a report on our activities after 3 months and upon project completion.
Q7: I want to start a fundraising campaign in my school/company/ organisation. What should I do?
A: Mercy Relief welcomes collaborations with potential groups/individuals for fundraising initiatives to support ongoing relief efforts for those affected by the South Asia Flood Relief 2022. You may also start your own crowdfunding campaign on giving.sg to support our fundraising efforts. For further discussions, kindly email us at intouch@mercyrelief.org.
Q8: I wish to donate old clothing, canned food, footwear, etc. Do you accept donations-in-kind?
A: Mercy Relief is currently not accepting donations-in-kind due to constraints in logistics, storage and transportation. During this critical phase of disaster relief, cash donations allow us greater flexibility and efficiency in procuring and providing relief supplies to victims who need it the most. It also minimises the duplication of relief items at the affected areas.
If you are keen to make a monetary contribution, please refer above on the available donation channels.
Q9: I want to volunteer for the relief mission! How can I apply?
A: Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Mercy Relief! Mercy Relief only deploys trained personnel for its overseas relief missions to ensure the safety and security of all volunteers and the smooth delivery of relief operations.
For local volunteer engagements, please send us an email at volunteer@mercyrelief.org to express your volunteering interest and our volunteer coordinator will get in touch with you for opportunities.
Q10: How can I get the latest updates on Mercy Relief and South Asia Flood Relief 2022?
A: Visit our official website at mercyrelief.org for the latest news on our relief and recovery efforts for those affected in South Asia. Timely updates with photos will also be posted on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MercyReliefOfficial, as well as our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/mercy_relief/ so make sure to follow us there.
You can also track the hashtag #MercyRelief (on FB and Instagram) for relevant updates too.
