Heavy rains cause massive flooding in Assam

Out of 24 districts 18 are reeling under flood waters. Altogether 58 breaches of embankments have already taken place since April 2004 (24 between 6 – 9 July) and many more breaches are likely to follow as the water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries continues to flow above the danger level.

The National Highway 31 remains submerged as road and rail communication continues to be disrupted, severing the State’s link with the rest of the country. The State Government with the help of the Army are evacuating people from the low-lying areas. However, the State Government has not yet made an appeal as they are still ascertaining the extent of damages.

ACT members Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and the Lutheran World Service India (LWSI), both present in the region, are already responding. CASA is assessing the situation in upper Assam districts while LWSI is working in Goalpara and Dhubri districts.

The people who are displaced from the villages are approaching local offices for help as the government support, in the form of rice, vegetables and salt are not adequate to meet immediate needs, especially since many people are unable to cook in the places where they have sought shelter. Immediate needs are temporary roofing such as polythene sheets, ready to eat food – such as pressed rice and Jagaries/molasses, water purification tablets, medicine against water born diseases, cattle fodder, hand pumps, etc.

The CASA Office in Guwahati has mobilised teams to start a feeding programme for the flood affected families in the districts of Nalbari and Barpeta for a period of five days using CASA resources.

LWSI staff, implementing in Dhubri and Goalpara (Appeal Asin-41 and DIP ECHO projects), report that families have taken shelter with their live-stock on raised areas/platforms constructed in the most vulnerable villages. They are drawing safe water from over 100 tube wells with raised platforms installed under the ACT Appeal projects during 2003 and 2004. Although these are not enough for all the affected families in the villages, at least some have an uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water.

The food grains saved out of the wages received under the food for work scheme initiated by LWSI under ASIN 41 in these villages are now being used until outside help reaches the people. The community infrastructures created in these most vulnerable areas are now proving to be very useful - village roads for evacuation and communication, raised areas/platforms to be used as places of refuge, tube wells with raised plat forms for drawing safe water, etc.

ACT partners in India are co-ordinating with the Inter Agency Group in Kolkata in monitoring and planning of the response. There is also regular contact with the district authorities.

The ACT members will revert to the ACT CO shortly about the possibility of an ACT appeal.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org). Thank you.