Oregon Public Broadcasting

As the scale of flooding in India becomes apparent, aid organizations across the U.S. are asking for extra help.

As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, Oregon-based Medical Teams International, says nearly 3 million people are flooded out of their homes.

Medical Teams spokeswoman, Barbara Agnew, says the disaster started 18 days ago when a small dam on the Kosi River was breached. But problems have grown exponentially with monsoon rains.

Barbara Agnew: “It’s taken a long with the two weeks of rain, coupled with other disasters right now in the world, it’s kind of been off the radar screen for most of America. And in fact, even they’re saying India’s ministry of health and their government.”

Agnew says half a million people still need to be rescued.

Medical Teams International is distributing clean water and food to thousands of people a day.

The official death toll is 90. But workers on the ground expect hundreds more have perished.