Every year dynamic monsoon induced flooding coupled with flash floods cause immense loss to life and property in Assam which falls in the highest rainfall intensity zone in the country. With a total of 5531.41 hectares of crop land affected, Mayong, Laharighat and Bhuragaon Revenue Circles in Morigaon district in Assam are still enlisted under flood affected areas by the State Disaster Management Authority.
Seasonal flooding and erosion has inundated several revenue villages and have given rise to massive internal displacement in Morigaon forcing flood survivors to occupy forest lands. Human populations, school infrastructures, grazing animals and poultry are equally facing the deluge of flooding waters and breached bunds in the three Revenue Circles, reportedly the most affected areas this season.
As an emergency response measure, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) of Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA), New Delhi, distributed some 17 Non Food Items to 2, 250 flood survivors in Dighaliati, Lengeri, Barman Basti, Sanduba, Banmuri Beel, Dunggarpar, Batalimari and Naharkati under Bhuragaon Circle during its Assam Flood Relief 2017 Phase II programme from September 1 to September 15, 2017.
EHA emergency response personnel oriented and pressed 8 volunteers from diverse backgrounds into carrying out household surveys and complete relief distribution work in 120 scheduled mandays apart from 40 more volunteers who assisted in other verticals of the emergency relief programme.
Since, items like rice, lentils, salt and mustard oils are distributed by the state government organs, EHA found it best to address the procurement and supply of Non Food Items (NFI) that comprise of Hygiene, Shelter and Water Kits.
In order to streamline operations, quality check and instill transparency EHA DMMU constituted Village Relief Committees along with Grievance Committees that comprised of members drawn from EHA, Gaon Panchayats, Rural Healthcare Centres, social workers and village heads to oversee the distribution process of NFIs to the enumerated beneficiaries.
EHA has earned commendable experience in the field of disaster management field during the decade. As of now, EHA has responded to as many as 39 disaster events approximately benefiting 500,000 and more survivors. EHA also undertook 5 large DRR programs in high disaster risk regions – Uttarakhand and Northeastern Region of India.
EHA’s Phase I relief programme took place in Mayong Revenue Circle in Morigaon. Emergency Relief by EHA was supported by Plan International with funds from Disaster Relief Fund, Government of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region.
To identify existing gaps and bring role clarity among responders, between March and April 2017, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority conducted two-days long Flood Mock Drills in the vulnerable Revenue Circles of Mayong, Laharighat, Bhuragaon, Morigaon under the supervision of DPO (Morigaon) & DPO (Kamrup-M). However, unprecedented flooding this season has engulfed newer areas exposing life and property of the inhabitants to vulnerable dimensions.
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