South Asia Monsoon Crisis Presents An Opportunity To Learn
And Prepare For Future Crisis

By Brian McAfee

15 August, 2007
Countercurrents.org

Is the South Asia monsoon a harbinger of things to come and will we be ready next time around? The perennial monsoon floods that have devastated parts of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal are said to be the worst in 30 years. The death toll has surpassed 2,200, made over twenty million people homeless and resulted in massive crop failure, ensuring hunger, poverty and homelessness for millions of men, women and children in South Asia for some time to come.

The flooding is particularly dangerous for children. With many completely cut off from clean water. Ingesting flood water was unavoidable, and drinking and cooking with flood water laden with contaminants has resulted in widespread diarrhea. Diarrhea is one of the most deadly and common killers of the poor.

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