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More than two million people were affected by the floods in Assam between June to August 2012 leaving a trail of destruction, damaging vast tracts of crops and shelter and leaving a death toll of 126 people.
Oxfam launched a flood response programme supported by European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection targeting more than 48,000 people. Oxfam responded to the flood crisis by providing emergency shelter and hygiene kits in some of the worst affected villages of Morigaon, Sonitpur and Nagaon. Emergency hygiene kits were provided to some of the worst-hit families. The second and third wave of the flood further worsened the living condition for the displaced population.
Oxfam scaled up its response programme with emergency food security and shelter assistance. Even as the displaced people started to return home, our teams provided unconditional cash transfers and cash for work in Morigaon and Sonitpur. We also assisted the displaced people with transitional shelter kits which helped them restore their houses.
Our teams established water and sanitation facilities in some of the worst hit villages across Morigaon and Sonitpur. We also repaired and rehabilitated damaged water systems, provided gender segregated emergency latrines and bathing cubicles. We also campaigned for promoting good practices of public health and hygiene awareness.
We adapted our programme to treat contaminated drinking water sources like hand pumps and ensured provisioning of safe drinking water for the community. Oxfam with its local partners provided training and skill building for the community level workers primarily women and panchayati raj institution members.
The flood response programme was financed and supported by European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection.
