Plea to help flood victims from Northland-based Keralese

Traditional Keralese drums will be played in central Whangarei as part of a fundrasing drive to help flood victims. Photo/Supplied

A number of fundraising activities are being planned in Whangārei to help hundreds of thousands of people recover from deadly floods in the Indian state of Kerala.

The Whangārei Malayalee Association has organised a traditional Keralese drum performance from 11am to 12.30pm today in the Cameron St Mall where flyers will be distributed to the public.

The flyers contain, among other information, bank account details for donors.

Monsoon rain that began in May has left more than 300 people dead and forced more than 200,000 into relief camps. It's the worst flooding there for almost a century.

Although floodwaters have receded, clean-up work is expected to take months, apart from repairs to critical infrastructure and rebuilding homes that have been damaged.

The association is making an impassioned plea for people to donate. All money will go towards the Kerala chief minister's disaster relief fund. There are about 300 people from the state in Northland and many have been directly affected by the floods and land slips.

The drummers to perform in Whangārei today were supposed to play the drums at the association's annual Onam festival last weekend that was cancelled due to concerns for the flood victims.

Speeches by association members on the effect of the floods will be given at St Francis Xavier Church on Kamo Rd tomorrow while a cultural programme has been organised at Kamo Hall from 6pm to 9pm on September 15.

Keralese couple Anil Kumar and Nisha Anil are selling snacks at their Diversity The Taste on Wheels, a mobile food cart on Maunu Rd, for $10. Half of that amount will go to the disaster relief fund.

In addition, flyers have been distributed in places around Whangarei such as the hospital to make as many people as possible aware of the floods and to request donation.

Donations can also be deposited into the ANZ bank account 060493052318300.