Flood Relief Program | ActionAid India and ECHO

Natural disasters such as floods can cause widespread destruction, leaving people without food, water, shelter, and other essential items. On July 8, 2007, Uska Bazr Siddhath Nagar District was hit by heavy floods and affected many people. The affected area was not prepared for such a disaster, and the people were not expecting it at the beginning of the rainy season. As a result, there was no special preparation made for the flood, and the people were left stranded and without access to basic necessities.

Published: by Swabhiman Samiti

Project Budget and time period:

The total cost of the project was Rs 21,30,000. out of which action ad contribution was Rs 30,000, and The grant from ECHO was Rs 21,00,000. the time period of project was july 2007 to dec 2007.

Overview of the Flood Relief Program:

The floods destroyed crops, marooned villages, and cut off roads, making it difficult for people to access food and water. The poor section of the population was hit the hardest, as they started facing a shortage of things like food and drink. The situation was dire, and the people needed immediate help to survive.

In response to the floods, Swabhiman Samiti requested ActionAid India Lucknow to cooperate with the flood victims. After seeing and analyzing the report of the floods, ActionAid decided to provide help to the people affected by the floods. Initially, ActionAid India donated 15 quintals of rice, 1.5 quintals of pigeon pea, and 1.5 quintals of salt, which were distributed among 300 families of Gram Panchayat Hathivartal. However, this was not enough to provide relief to all the affected people. Therefore, ActionAid contacted ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Aid) and provided cooperation on a large scale.

ECHO responded to the request for help and provided 1400 kits of relief material. These kits were distributed to 1400 families in seven revenue villages, namely Hathivadtal, Tal Natwa, Sankhui, Ajigra, Lau Khau, Tal Baghiya, and Gauradh. The relief material provided by ActionAid India and ECHO was a significant help to the affected families.

Per kit quantity:

• Rice 25 kg
• Split pigeon pea (Toor Dal) 1.5 kg
• Mustard oil (from a bull-driven mill) 2 liters
• Tata salt 1 kg
• Soybean chunks 1 kg
• Vegetable spice 100 grams 1 packet
• Polythene sheet - 12 feet x 15 feet per family.

In addition to the relief material, Swabhiman Samiti also distributed nutrition kits to 207 families with pregnant/lactating women. These kits contained items like iron tablets, folic acid, calcium tablets, and protein powder. The nutrition kits were distributed to ensure that the health needs of the women were met during this challenging time. Furthermore, Swabhiman Samiti with support of ECHO and ActionAid also provided rainy seats to 800 families living in huts. The rainy seats were 12 by 15 feet in size and helped to protect the families from the rain and wind during the monsoon season. The rainy seats were particularly important for the families living in huts, as they did not have a proper shelter to protect them from the harsh weather.

Impact:

The Flood Relief Program implemented by ActionAid India and ECHO had a significant impact on the affected communities. Some of the key impacts are as follows:

• Provision of Essential Item: The distribution of relief material such as rice, dal, and oil, along with other essential items like salt, soybean chunks, and vegetable spice, provided some relief to the affected families who were facing a shortage of food and basic necessities. The polythene sheets provided to each family also helped to protect them from the rain and wind during the monsoon season.
• Improved health and nutrition: The nutrition kits distributed to 207 families with pregnant/lactating women helped to meet the health needs of the women during this challenging time. The kits contained items like iron tablets, folic acid, calcium tablets, and protein powder, which are essential for the health and nutrition of pregnant and lactating women.
• Better shelter: The rainy seats provided to 800 families living in huts helped to protect them from the rain and wind during the monsoon season. This was particularly important for families living in huts who did not have proper shelter to protect them from the harsh weather.
• Increased Awareness: The Flood Relief Program helped to increase awareness about the importance of disaster preparedness and response. The cooperation between different organizations like ActionAid India, ECHO, and Swabhiman Samiti helped to ensure that the relief efforts were effective and efficient.
• Strengthened community resilience: The timely intervention of ActionAid India, ECHO, and Swabhiman Samiti helped to mitigate the effects of the disaster to some extent. The cooperation between different organizations also helped to ensure that the relief efforts were effective and efficient. This experience helped to strengthen the resilience of the affected communities and build their capacity to respond to future disasters.

In conclusion, the Flood Relief Program by ActionAid India.ECHO and swabiman samiti had a significant impact on the lives of the people affected by the floods in Uska Bazar, Siddharth Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. The program provided the affected families with essential items, improved their health, protected them from harsh weather conditions, increased awareness, and mobilized the affected communities. It is essential to continue providing support to communities affected by natural disasters to ensure their recovery and resilience.