Flood victims fear disease : death toll rises to 1000

South Asia's ruinous flood that affected millions and forced many homeless is now a health concern as people fear epidemics might strike them.

In the eastern Indian state of Assam, where upto 3 million people took refuge in emergency camps or were cut off in their villages are afraid that the receding waters and surging temperatures fed concerns of disease outbreaks.

Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi said, "We are really worried about the outbreak of an epidemic in Assam now."

According to India government by August 5, the death toll has risen above 1,000 and the floods affected 35 million people in the region.

Of the 10 million affected in Bihar state Medicines, Food and Clothing were dropped by four air force helicopters.

Ramesh Das, a Defense Ministry spokesman in Kolkata said, "Each pilot is carrying out 12 sorties a day and they have reported huge devastation in central and north Bihar."

Elevated highways, railways tracks and field embankments are crowded with people for safety as the floodwaters increased. This year much of eastern India and two–thirds of Bangladesh have been submerged.

A local NGO, which was distributing relief, said dozens of women, including children, were fighting over small packets of biscuits. "Some of us were beaten up by the villagers," said an official of the NGO.

The United Nations has described the flood situation in India and Bangladesh as "the worst in living memory."

Meanwhile, UNICEF's health chief in India Marzio Babille, who is coordinating U.N work in Bihar, said "aid agencies and authorities must do more to prevent outbreaks of measles, gastroenteritis, dengue fever and other diseases, or we will see many deaths."

The Indian Government says more than 1,100 people have died in this year's monsoon excluding the latest casualties.