NEADS Launches Relief Programme for 9,000 Flood Victims in Jonai

GUWAHATI, July 20, 2026 — The North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) has launched a humanitarian relief programme to assist around 9,000 people affected by the recent floods in Jonai Sub-Division of Assam's Dhemaji district.

Supported by the Start Fund, the programme will cover 1,800 vulnerable families across more than 20 villages under the Silley, Bahir Jonai, Rayang Bijaypur and Gali Sikari gram panchayats.

The intervention follows the devastating floods triggered by a cloudburst in the upper catchments of Arunachal Pradesh on June 28. The resulting surge in the Gai, Simen and Dikari rivers inundated large parts of Jonai, damaging homes, roads, agricultural land and livelihoods while contaminating drinking water sources.

According to NEADS, the relief programme includes the distribution of hygiene and dignity kits, emergency shelter materials, non-food items (NFIs), protection support, and community-based disaster risk management activities. The initiative will also help affected families access government relief schemes and recovery assistance.

The organisation is implementing the programme in collaboration with the Rural Volunteers Centre (RVC), North-Star Club and the Dhemaji Inter-Agency Group (IAG), while coordinating with the district administration, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), gram panchayats, Village Disaster Management Committees (VDMCs) and local volunteers.

NEADS Director Tirtha Prasad Saikia said the initiative demonstrates the importance of locally led humanitarian action in responding quickly to climate-induced disasters. He thanked the Start Fund for enabling a rapid response and said the programme aims not only to provide emergency assistance but also to strengthen community resilience and improve access to government services.

The response gives priority to children, women, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women, indigenous communities and other vulnerable groups. NEADS said the assistance is being delivered in accordance with humanitarian principles while strengthening coordination between local communities, humanitarian organisations and government agencies.