Surat Floods - www.sewainternational.com

Surat , the industrial city in Gujarat with more than 35 lakh people, is facing an unprecedented natural disaster and still remains marooned after water from the raging Tapti river flooded it.

Hundreds of workers of non-governmental organisations are ready to help and are waiting for the waters to recede. More than 2,000 medical fully-equipped workers will reach Surat by Thursday. The staff from the Ahmedabad and Rajkot municipal corporations will also be called to serve in Surat.

Over 600 SEWA volunteers have rushed to carry out rescue & relief operations from different parts of Gujarat, to the flood affected district of Surat and adjoining areas. As per the latest updates signs of water receding from the innundated areas have been witnessed but still 50 % of Surat is still submerged & innundated with flood water.

Truck loads of relief materials have been despatched today from Sewa Bharti's headquarter at Ahmedabad for Surat carrying 4,500 kg of Sukhri (dry food), 5,500 kg of salted edible materials, 6,000 packets of biscuits, 2000 kg puris, 10,000 water sachets, 100 kg Pickles, 900 packets candles, 600 packets Match boxes, 165 bundles of ropes etc. 50 centres at Ahmedabad are busy preparing food packets under the supervision of Shri Laveshbhai.

Make Poverty History - www.makepovertyhistory.org

The gap between the world's rich and poor has never been wider. Malnutrition, AIDS, conflict and illiteracy are a daily reality for millions.

But it isn't chance or bad luck that keeps people trapped in bitter, unrelenting poverty. It's man-made factors like a glaringly unjust global trade system, a debt burden so great that it suffocates any chance of recovery and insufficient and ineffective aid.

Rich countries are blocking a global trade system that would help make poverty history. This injustice will only be changed if enough citizens across the world call on rich country governments to change their trade policies, for example at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Already, public pressure has forced rich countries to cancel some poor country debts. The progress seen on debt in recent years is down to people like you. Gordon Brown acknowledged that the G8 made further concessions in 2005 because campaigners had made debt "a crucial public issue".

We need to stop people's lives being destroyed because of unfair trade laws - and you can help make that happen. Be part of the call for just and fair world trade. Take action with the member organisations of the Trade Justice Movement, the coalition continuing the campaign for trade justice.