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Background
 The
state of Assam experienced severe flood due to
incessant rains since the last week of June 2004.
The river Brahmaputra, one of India’s most
voluminous rivers passes through the entire state
of Assam was flowing over danger level and several
breaches had taken place. 23 out of the 28
districts of Assam were affected; about 2749
villages and a total population of 2.5 million
people were affected.
The
flood situation of the Sonitpur District turned
grim on 5th July when a huge wave of
flood water rushed down from the hills of the
neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh. The
floods washed away a large part of the sector
called Seijusa-Itakhola sector under Naduar
revenue circle. The other areas of the district
that were devastated were Paanch Mile – Napam
area under Tezpur and Chariduar revenue circle,
Dhekiajulie circle, Gohpur and Biswanath
Sub-division. TDMS supported the district
administration’s relief activities by collecting
and distributing old clothes.
However,
in view of the scale of destruction we felt the
need to organise a more substantial relief program
and requested the Royal Danish Embassy to
render humanitarian support. The
Samiti received a grant from
the Embassy on July 16, 2004 after
submission of a proposal for flood relief work in
Sonitpur District.
 Phase
I
The
1st phase of the relief work began on July 19,
2004. The target was to reach out to 5,000
families but we surpassed the target by 465. With
active support from the District Administration in
terms of identifying the worst hit areas, TDMS
volunteers personally undertook the task of distribution
of relief package to each beneficiary
family. 32
hamlets in 6 Circles of Sonitpur were covered
under the flood relief programme. 3 relief camps in the urban areas were also
covered.
Phase
II
With
support from the district administration and
district health services, TDMS was able to conduct
8 health camps. The district administration
provided the medical team comprising of doctors,
nurses and pharmacists. TDMS members worked as
volunteers and organised the patients and helped
out in the distribution of the medicines. The
medicines were sourced by TDMS from the wholesale
drug market. The prevalent ailments were fever,
diarrhea, skin ailments, and general weakness. De-worming
medicines were also distributed.
Phase
III
1800
units of Medicated mosquito nets, Permanet (WxLxH,
100x180x150 cm, 75 denier, white
 colour) were
sourced from VesterGaard Frandsen India Pvt. Ltd.
These nets were distributed to flood victims from
the malaria endemic circle of Gohpur. The
beneficiaries were mostly labourers from tea
estate of that area.
Summing
Up
The
emergency relief operations which began on 12th
July’04 came to an end with the distribution of
mosquito nets on 30th October but 2
more medical camps were conducted on 16th
October and 29th November. The relief
program was very successful in terms of effective
and expeditious delivery of the relief materials
to the flood victims. The nature and quality of
the relief material were also immensely
appreciated by all the beneficiaries.
From
TDMS’s perspective it was an opportunity to
serve the flood victims, it was also a great
learning experience in terms of handling such a
large scale operation. It has built organizational
cohesiveness as well as confidence.
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