ActionAid responds to Indian floods

The impact of the floods was particularly devastating in the Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh states.

Among the millions of people affected, the Dalits, Muslims and tribal people who lived in the low-lying areas suffered the most.

In Maharastra , ActionAid worked in ten slums in Nashik, providing medical aid to 1,300 people. Food packs, water purifiers, family kits, cooking utensils and tarpaulin for temporary shelter were also distributed.

Getting children back to schools has been another priority and this was promoted through the distribution of schools uniforms, notebooks and pens.

In Gujarat , ActionAid worked hand in hand with grassroots organizations, government officials and teams of doctors to mobilise resources and assistance.

In this state the scale of the flood was unprecedented and can be explained by the release of water from dams, which devastated the villages located downstream.

ActionAid will be working with these communities to raise awareness of the risks associated with the construction of dams and similar projects.

At least 10,000 families had to evacuate Ahmadabad, the biggest city in Gujarat and take shelter in schools, footpaths and parks. The city of Surat was also hit hard.

The government provided medical assistance and cleaned the debris but proper compensation was an issue and slum-dwellers and the migrant industrial workers struggled to get back to normal.

ActionAid delivered food, cooking utensils and school materials to help children get back to school.

In Andhra Pradesh widespread devastation and massive loss of crops was caused by an upsurge of the river Godavari, which left many villages submerged.

ActionAid and partners provided food for around 25,000 people and distributed large amounts of water purification tablets to avoid diseases spreading.

Relief was channeled to single women, disabled people, infants and the aged of the poorest families in coordination with other non-governmental organisations to avoid duplication.

Health centres provided medical care and flood survivors received clothing, food and kitchen utensils.

Here too getting children back to school was a priority so notebooks and pens were distributed.

Special attention was paid to the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups such as Dalits, tribal communities, women, children and the elderly.