Google announces $1 mn for flood relief in India, Nepal, Bangladesh

Six states in India, including Assam and Bihar, are reeling under floods. Mumbai also received very heavy rains this week

Google on Thursday pledged $1 million relief to flood-hit areas of India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

A villager carries his belongings on a makeshift raft from a flooded village in Araria district of Bihar .(PTI file photo)

“We are committing $1 million from Google.org and Google employees to Goonj and Save the Children for their relief efforts,” Rajan Anandan, Vice-President, South East Asia and India, wrote in a blog post.

Save the Children is working in the flood-affected areas of the three countries and aims to reach a total of 1,60,000 people.

The organisation is providing food and livelihood support, temporary shelter materials, hygiene items and water source restoration to the affected people.

Goonj’s relief efforts include providing families with food, mats, blankets and hygiene items. In the long term, it aims to help rebuild and revive community structures such as roads, bridges and schools.

Children are the most vulnerable in situations like these. Save the Children is focused on setting up child-friendly spaces where children can gain access to educational materials and playtime.

Google’s Crisis Response team has activated “SOS Alerts” for the flooding in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Six states in India, including Assam and Bihar, are reeling under floods. Mumbai also received very heavy rains on Tuesday.

The flood threat perception has been set high for parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, as the reservoirs and dams on rivers Mahi, Sabarmati, Banas and their tributaries are already holding 90 to 94 per cent of their capacity.