Hyderabad: NGOs come together to provide relief for rain-hit

HYDERABAD : Non-government organisations (NGOs), which are engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas, have formed a ‘Hyderabad Flood Relief Coalition’ to streamline relief works. Under this group, they have decided to disburse essential commodities to at least 20,000 families.

MIM corporator Ayesha Rubina said initially different community and religious organizations and NGOs had pressed their volunteers in rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas. They not only provided their bits of help in rescuing the people but also distributed succour to the affected families. Now about 10 NGOs have come together under one platform to work in a coordinated manner.

Rubina said “we observed that due to lack of coordination between the organizations, some families get relief material from different organizations while some families end up getting nothing. We have decided to collect and segregate the materials provided by organizations and individuals at the space acquired at Road No. 12 for the purpose. We will disburse from here. More than 100 volunteers are extending their services.”

Feroz Baig of Social Data Initiatives Forum (SDIF) said initially Safa Baitul Maal, Helping Hand Foundation and Access Foundation decided to work together. Other organisations also joined in, including ‘Goonj’, an NGO from Delhi. “We have distributed about 1,500 kits so far and it will touch 5,000 kits,” he said.