Food crisis looms large over flood-hit Assam

Flood-affected people fight food crisis in Assam

Guwahati, August 4: After the calamity, here comes the reality.

During June and July, Assam was deep under floodwaters that led to the death of at least 83 people and large-scale destruction of agricultural lands and properties.

Amid mourning the dead and loss of homes and agricultural lands, the flood-affected people are now facing food crisis. According to a latest survey, 90 per cent of flood-affected people have food stock for a maximum of three weeks only.

The survey has been conducted by the Inter Agency Group, Assam. It is a joint initiative of at least 12 NGOs working in 32 flood-affected villages in six districts.

The report adds that 56 per cent people have food stock for less than a week while another 34 per cent have food for one to three weeks. Only 10 per cent of the surveyed people have food stock that is likely to remain for a month.

The NGOs conducted their survey in Dhemaji, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Morigaon and Barpeta districts, some of the worst-hit places of the state.

In these six districts, 6.41 lakh people residing in 1,021 villages were affected by floods till July 30. More than 60,900 hectares of cropland was affected by floods in the six districts.

Along with depleting food stock, the closure of relief camps where thousands took shelter and got free food compounded the food scarcity issue. The camps, opened by the government, have been closed as floodwaters have receded in most parts of Assam. Moreover, the government has stopped distributing food and relief materials to the affected people.

According to the survey, food and relief items were not adequately distributed by the government as per the needs of the people, triggering discontentment among those affected.

The most shocking part of the report is that shortage of food forced a majority of the flood-affected people to reduce their food intake during the disaster. The report says food intake considerably decreased among 69 per cent of women, 78 per cent men and 69 per cent children.

It was found that people were unable to meet food requirements and had borrowed from relatives and friends.

Some of the other highlights of the survey:

Livelihood sources most impacted, stated the survey,

Water woes: 69 per cent of villages had no access to safe and clean drinking water. Many forced to drink contaminated water, leading to disease among children.

Open defecation: 84 per cent of assessed villages found to be defecating in the open, increasing the chances of diarrhoea or cholera outbreak.

Menstrual hygiene: Women struggle to maintain hygiene after being rendered homeless and the relief camps lack privacy and sanitation facilities. About 65 per cent women use cloth and 19 per cent use both sanitary pads and cloth.

Access: 38 per cent of the relief camps not accessible to persons with disabilities and transgender people.

Safety: Snakebites, mosquitoes, darkness, rain and heat found to be immediate concerns of flood-affected people.

OneIndia News