In 2024, Assam once again faced the devastating impacts of severe flooding, displacing thousands and threatening the lives of vulnerable communities. Among the most affected were women and children, who found themselves grappling with the loss of shelter, security, and access to essential services. In the face of these overwhelming challenges, efforts to restore hope and rebuild lives became vital, focusing on providing immediate relief and long-term support to help these communities recover.
Amid the crisis, SEEDS (Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society), an organization with 30 years of experience in disaster recovery and resilience, stepped forward to provide crucial relief to vulnerable communities. The floods, which began on June 18, 2024, left many areas waterlogged and isolated, forcing families to relocate to higher ground using makeshift floating vessels made from bamboo and banana trees. With power outages lasting for weeks and water supplies halted for over 20 days, the challenges faced by the affected communities were immense.
SEEDS focused its relief efforts on three severely impacted Gram Panchayats in Karimganj district of Assam: Suprakandi, Nilambazar, and Charkuri, prioritizing marginalized communities, women-led households, and elderly individuals who relied on small-scale agriculture and labor for their livelihoods. These areas were among the hardest hit, with damaged sanitation infrastructure, contaminated water sources, and schools closed for over a month.
SEEDS’ Lifesaving Response to Assam’s Flood Crisis
SEEDS responded swiftly to assist families affected by the flooding in Assam, providing immediate aid to those in need. Food kits containing rice, wheat flour, dal, oil, and spices were distributed to 1,282 households, providing them with the essential supplies to survive in the wake of disaster. Additionally, 2,178 households received hygiene kits. These kits ensured basic sanitation and health in a challenging environment where access to clean water and hygiene was severely disrupted. The road to recovery was challenging. With many areas cut off by floodwaters, SEEDS used boats and local vessels to reach affected villages, setting up distribution points to ensure families received urgent aid. Alongside food and hygiene kits, SEEDS provided shelter kits to 891 families and repaired 11 handpumps, restoring safe drinking water to the communities. These immediate interventions laid the groundwork for a more significant focus—creating secure environments for women and children.
Child-Friendly Spaces: Nurturing a Future of Hope
One of SEEDS most transformative contributions to flood recovery was the establishment of Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) in Suprakandi and surrounding wards. In total, 11 CFS centers were set up, offering a sanctuary for 392 children during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. These spaces were more than just shelters; they were hubs of informal education, play, and psychosocial support. Children in these spaces found an escape from the trauma of the flood crisis. CFS centers gave them a sense of normalcy and structure, allowing them to engage in learning and recreational activities in a safe and nurturing environment. More than that, these spaces became centers of protection, shielding children from the physical and emotional stress brought about by the disaster. The overwhelmingly positive response from the community demonstrated how crucial these spaces were in helping children cope and heal.
Ensuring Safety and Health: SEEDS’ Support for Women in Assam’s Flood-Affected Communities
While children were being cared for in CFS centers, SEEDS focused its attention on another critical issue—women’s safety and well-being. SEEDS baseline findings revealed alarming gaps in the relief camps. Women and adolescent girls lacked privacy and proper safety arrangements, leaving them feeling unsafe in these communal spaces. Many chose to return home, despite the risk, to sleep in homes partially submerged in water. In response, SEEDS launched initiatives specifically aimed at addressing the concerns of women in these difficult times. In partnership with Anganwadi Workers (AWW), Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), and Village Development Police (VDC), SEEDS organized women’s meetings and awareness programs. These sessions focused on safe menstrual hygiene practices during disasters, prevention of gender-based violence in relief camps, and ways for women to safeguard their personal safety. Additionally, SEEDS incorporated health education into these programs, covering essential topics like preventing diarrhea, proper ORS preparation, and maintaining a safe water chain. These awareness programs were repeated multiple times in each ward, ensuring that no one was left behind. Through these efforts, SEEDS reached 687 women and adolescent girls, providing them with crucial information and protection during the recovery process.
Building Resilience for the Future
Beyond the immediate relief, SEEDS is committed to helping these communities build long-term resilience. Recognizing that floods are a recurring threat in Assam, SEEDS advocates for flood-resilient infrastructure, such as raised toilets and flood-proof homes. In collaboration with local authorities, SEEDS continues to push for solutions that will help these communities withstand future disasters. One of the key strategies SEEDS recommends is the cash-for-work program, which would provide a dual benefit—helping communities recover while stimulating the local economy. Additionally, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) committees are being trained within villages to ensure long-term health and hygiene improvements, creating a culture of preparedness that will last far beyond this crisis. As SEEDS continues its work in Assam, it remains focused on empowering women and children, not just through immediate relief but also by addressing the deep-rooted social issues that make these groups vulnerable in times of disaster. By promoting women’s education, protection, and safety, SEEDS is helping to build a future where communities are not only able to recover from floods but also thrive in the face of them.
Conclusion
While the frequent occurrence of floods in Assam has led to a troubling sense of normalcy, often categorizing these events as low-to-medium-level disasters, they cannot be taken lightly. The recurring nature of floods requires sustained attention and strong disaster management strategies to protect vulnerable populations. SEEDS demonstrated that disaster relief must extend beyond the basics. By focusing on women and children, they created spaces of safety and hope, providing critical supplies and helping the community rebuild physically, mentally, and emotionally. SEEDS’ efforts underscore the need for both immediate relief and long-term resilience-building to ensure communities can recover and thrive amid such natural calamities.
