Assam Flood Food Grain Support

Flood and Covid-19 became a potent combination of discomfort in the year 2020. As the first floods hit in May 2020 destroying standing crops, farm lands, infrastructure and human settlements, the events intensified coupled with cyclone Amphan affecting tens of thousands of people. As people hurried to relief camps amidst standard operating protocols drawn by the State Disaster Management Authority, many more trapped in the flood were in need of immediate relief.

DCI carried needs assessment in pockets of hard hit Nalbari and Dhubri district. Relief camps were erected on high ground and Covid-19 relief camp management guidelines enforced one-metre social distancing to be maintained between two occupants. Hence, relief camps could house less occupants than otherwise. Add to it the scare that people could contract Covid in relief camps. For some relief camps were inaccessible and located far off from their dwellings. This posed difficulty for many to cope with rising flood water levels on one hand and to scout for temporary shelter options near about their place on the other.

Affected populations occupied with finding shelters or erecting temporary shelters, were found in dire need of food grain support in the face of gross loss of livelihood options given their involvement in the informal sector. Food Grain Support was undertaken in Katpuha village in Barbhag under Nalbari district. In Dhubri district support was extended to Chapgarh Pt – I, Fulkumari, Kharejdoubhangi, Khudimari Pt – I, Hariarkuti and Falimari. Apart from necessary indicators, households that were not under any social security schemes were selected as beneficiaries.

Funds for Assam Flood Food Grain Support was crowdsourced and led by Syeda Jeena Begum, Syed Ziaul Islam, Aslam Hussain and an eager group of community volunteers.