Assam State, located in northeastern India, is currently experiencing severe flooding. Lakhimpur and Biswanath districts, where Aide et Action is currently running education projects, have been hit badly with over 6,000 people, including more than 1,000 children, now affected. Our on-site teams are assessing the situation in these areas and planning how to best deploy emergency assistance as soon as possible.
The torrential rains that have hit India and Nepal since the beginning of July have caused heavy flooding in Assam State, located in northeastern India. The Brahmaputra and Barak rivers and their tributaries have reached critical levels and 30 out of the 33 districts in this area are affected as many villages are now flooded.
Lakhimpur and Biswanath districts, where Aide et Action has been implementing projects dedicated to access and quality of education, are also affected by this natural disaster. Our on-site teams are requesting emergency assistance as the floods worsen: “The situation in Nowboicha and Bihpuria areas, Lakhimpur district, is critical. Rivers have overflowed, about 20 villages are still flooded and we fear, with the persistence of the rains, that the Ranganadi dam will give way, which would obviously have even more dramatic consequences. We’re seeing a similar situation in Biswanath district, where we also work: wells and pumps have been immersed and damaged and residents are now having trouble accessing clean, uncontaminated drinking water. Forage such as hay and animal feed has also been destroyed which means the livestock that villages rely on can no longer be fed. In total, in the two districts, almost 1,200 households – 6,200 people including more than 1,100 children, most of whom are beneficiaries of our work – are deeply affected and in extreme destitution. Livelihoods means are compromised, roads are cut off and emergency assistance is struggling to get here”.
Aide et Action is currently evaluating the situation and peoples’ needs in order to quickly respond to this emergency, particularly in terms of providing access to safe drinking water, food and shelter; setting up centres for children and women to have safe spaces and the provision of psycho-social support; the provision of hygiene kits and mosquito nets; and surveillance of possible health and epidemic risks.