The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has provided relief material to flooded areas in Tamil Nadu. The country has been severely affected by heavy rainfall in the south of the country, with states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh particularly affected.
Around 400 people died as a result of the flooding in early December, and there has been more heavy rain and flooding into the new year. Nearly two million people have been displaced, and floods have also caused delays and cancellations to air, road and rail services. Three million people have been cut off from basic services while many continue to be trapped in flooded parts of India. Water levels remain high in Chennai while more rain is forecasted.
The world’s largest fertiliser co-operative federation, IFFCO includes 40,000 member co-operatives. Earlier this year they helped people from Kashmir and Uttarakhand affected by floods. The co-operative will offer relief material worth Rs 1 crore (£98,657).
“The material will be finalised as per the most important need of the affected people which will provide immediate help to them and boost their confidence to fight this natural calamity,” IFFCO said in a statement.
IFFCO’s state office in Tamil Nadu will provide on-ground action on providing relief material in flood-affected districts of Kanchipuramin, Cuddalore and Thiruvallur.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said the floods were caused by climate change. At the COP21 meeting in Paris he encouraged world leaders of developed nations to help poorer states bring down CO2 emissions. Chennai is an important industry hub for the country and the economic losses from the floods could exceed £1.5bn.
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