Monsoon rains have caused severe flooding in India's northeast. Following a rapid assessment in the seven flood affected districts - Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Golaghat, Cachar, Dhemaji, Biswanath and Karimganj of Assam - Oxfam India is responding to the crisis. Oxfam India will be providing immediate humanitarian assistance in the two worst affected districts of Lakhimpur and Karimganj.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report, Karimganj is hit worst with over 180,000 people affected, and Lakhimpur has more than 81,000 people in need of assistance.
Oxfam India is providing water, sanitation and public health, emergency food security and temporary shelter support.
“The areas affected by the flood in Assam already face severe poverty and are therefore most vulnerable to natural and manmade hazards. The people of these districts could be pushed further into hardship if immediate relief is not provided. Currently, there are few agencies responding to this crisis, but the coming 30 days are crucial as heavy rainfall continues,” said Oxfam India Chief Executive Officer Nisha Agrawal.
The Karimganj district authorities are running 66 relief camps where 14,536 people have taken shelter, while 46 relief distribution points have been set up to distribute materials to the flood affected population.
Torrential rains have also trigged flash floods in Manipur. The administration has declared state calamity and Imphal East, Imphal West, Lawngtlai and Bishnupur are the worst affected districts in the state. Oxfam India is assessing the situation in the state to determine whether we will respond there as well.
