(PORTLAND, ORE., July 10, 2012) – In response to devastating flooding in northeastern India, Medical Teams International (MTI) is providing support to assist those affected by the disaster. Nearly 6 million people in Assam state have been displaced as a result of the flooding, and more than 120 people have died. With all of Assam’s 27 districts under water, this potentially critical health situation is also economically devastating in this area where most of the population relies on agriculture for survival.

MTI is responding to this disaster through our partner Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA), based in New Delhi, India. EHA has a network of disaster relief medical and health professionals, and their Management and Mitigation Unit has the capacity to respond to disasters in their own country. With funding from Medical Teams International, lifesaving measures such as water purification systems, shelters, nutritional supplements for children and disease outbreak services for families will be made available to flood victims.

“The challenge facing communities after major flooding is ensuring the overall health of the community,” says Joe DiCarlo, MTI’s director of Disaster Response. “With contaminated water and poor sanitation, disease outbreaks are a high risk. Medical Teams International is working with its partners to ensure the health status of the community is stabilized.”

Medical Teams International will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as events unfold.

For more information or to contribute to MTI’s response to this disaster, please see Disaster Alert.