Water, and Sanitation Program in Flood-Affected Areas Organized by Swabhiman Samiti
On 8th July 2007, severe flooding struck the region, an area already prone to floods. Although the community did not anticipate such a catastrophic flood at the beginning of the monsoon season, the region was severely affected due to heavy rainfall in Nepal, which resulted in widespread flooding. The floods not only submerged agricultural land, destroying crops, but also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads and water sources.
The flood affected several revenue villages, including:
Entire villages were submerged, and many villages, such as Mairund, were completely cut off from the district due to flooded roads. As a result, people were left without access to basic supplies, including safe drinking water.
One of the major issues faced during the flood was the lack of access to clean and safe drinking water. The flooding resulted in the damaging of handpumps and low-level water sources, which led to contaminated water being available to the affected population. Swabhiman Samiti took immediate action to address these issues and ensure that people had access to clean drinking water.
2.1 Handpump Repair and Platform Heightening:
2.2 Water Purification Campaign:
The post-flood period also saw an increase in mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis, due to the accumulation of stagnant water in the affected areas. To combat these diseases, Swabhiman Samiti, in collaboration with ActionAid India, conducted fogging operations in flood-affected villages.
3.1 Fogging Operations:
The combined efforts of Swabhiman Samiti and ActionAid India in addressing the water contamination, sanitation issues, and vector control during and after the flood had a significant impact on the affected communities:
Swabhiman Samiti’s Flood Relief Program, focused on water, sanitation, and health in the aftermath of the 2007 flood, played a critical role in mitigating the impact of the disaster. The combined efforts in handpump repairs, water purification, and fogging helped reduce health risks, ensure access to clean water, and raise awareness about maintaining proper sanitation.
These interventions contributed to building resilience in the affected communities and ensured that they were better prepared for future disasters. Swabhiman Samiti remains committed to its mission of improving health and sanitation in flood-prone areas, and will continue to work towards empowering vulnerable populations with the resources and knowledge needed to face such challenges.
