Whanganui woman Anne Martin raising money for Kerala flood victims

The Kerala floods have left 800,000 people displaced and more than 400 dead. Photo / AP

A Whanganui woman is working to help raise funds and get food to victims of the Kerala floods.

Around 800,000 people were displaced and according to reports in India, more than 400 have died in the worst flooding in a century in southern India's Kerala state.

The downpours that started on August 8 triggered floods and landslides and caused homes and bridges to collapse across Kerala, known for its quiet tropical backwaters and beautiful beaches.

Whanganui woman Anne Martin, who is also the administrator for the New Zealand branch of the charity Mercy Mission, has started collecting money to be used to buy rice and other food for 1000 families in Kerala.

The money will be given to Dr Charly Tom, the founder of the Mercy Mission Welfare Society, and who was born in Kerala.

Martin said she got in touch with Tom after the flooding started and found out how they could help.

"Because he's got a team of Mercy Mission people of about 40 on the ground in Kerala he can deal through them," Martin said.

"His plan is to provide 1000 families ... that are deeply in need with rice and food as quickly as possible."

Anne Martin -- raising funds for flood victims

She said they will collect donations from New Zealand before sending them directly to Tom to purchase the food.

"We can get money to India very quickly because of our system. We actually send it through the Bank of Baroda. We can get it out there basically the same day and they will get the food required to them."

Martin said the money would go a long way to help those now in desperate need.

"These people have got nothing. Everything's gone. Their rice fields, their amazing gardens and food and it just all washed away."

It costs the New Zealand Mercy Mission $10 to send sums of $5000 directly to their compatriots in India. All of the New Zealand Mercy Mission workers are volunteers.

Martin said donations were welcome either via their BNZ Bank account (number: 02-0152-0154770-00), using the code 'KF'.

She said donors should send details of their contribution including their name at mercymissionnz2010@gmail.com if they would like a receipt.

People could also drop money off at the church office of Whanganui Anglicans at 243 Wicksteed St.

Money should be placed in an envelope clearly marked 'Mercy Mission Kerala Fund' along with the donor's name and contact details.