ActionAid India is responding to the needs of the survivors of Orissa flood in three districts of Bargarh, Puri, Jagatsingpur and plans to reach out to over 125,000 people in the coming days in a fast deteriorating situation.
The flood in India’s eastern state, precipitated by monsoon rains, has claimed 32 lives, as per local reports, and affected over 2 million people as per the latest update from the State Emergency Operation Centre.
“The scale of devastation is massive and agencies are overawed by it. It needs a collective and urgent response,” says Madhumita Ray, Programme Manager for ActionAid office in Orissa.
“There are many villages and pockets which have are yet to be reached. The crisis is far from over as rains continue in the upper reaches which continue to feed the overflowing rivers in Orissa, especially the Mahanadi River,” she adds.
“ActionAid plans to reach out to vulnerable communities like Dalits, single women and women headed households who are generally worst affected and have the least access to relief and rehabilitation,” says Amar Joyti Nayak, ActionAid’s regional manager of Orissa Office.
Several hundred thousand have been left homeless, especially families from the excluded communities, as most of them stay in huts, and are in dire need of sheets to escape the downpour and have some cover over themselves. There is an immediate need for fodder for animals, as a largely agrarian population dependent on livestock is severely affected with no cattle grazing spaces and destruction of all kinds of stored fodder.
Drinking water is an urgent need, as all water sources have been contaminated by flood water. Nutritional support is desperately needed for infants and pregnant/lactating mothers. There is a real and immediate threat of outbreaks of water and vector borne diseases.
“Direct access to many areas has been cut off, and we are dependent on boats in many areas. In other areas volunteers are wading and swimming through flood water to move around,” Ms Ray added.
