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UNICEF flood supplies save lives

© UNICEF/India/2006

ORS,other supplies being loaded, supervised by UNICEF people

By Lalatendu Acharya

Panchanan Parida was a farmer who lost his home, his lands and his livelihood in the floods. His family, 14 members in all, were living on a rooftop, one of the few standing structures around. Chagarai village in Kendrapara district was still under water, a full 10 days after the first flood waters hit the village.

Parbati Sahani, 14 years old was living with her family in a shanty on the breached national highway that skirts her submerged village. Her parents did not lose any land as they were too poor to own any, but they lost their only mud home.
A serious situation still persists in at least 7 districts of Orissa, severely affected by floods. This was the fifth phase of flooding in the state, the first of which was reported in the second week of July.

The fifth phase of flooding has affected 2.25 million people and 5,314 villages. The waters have inundated 293,267 hectares of crop area and disrupted communication networks and roads. A majority of the affected people are rural and depend on agriculture, farming and livestock for their livelihood. The floods have destroyed most of their livestock.

The maximum impact of the floods has fallen on the most vulnerable - the women and children. Prompt preparedness action and information by the Government and other agencies ensured that there were minimum lives lost as people shifted to higher ground. But days after the flooding, large tracts still remain waterlogged and women and children are unable to return to their homes to resume their normal lives.

UNICEF Project Officer for Water and Sanitation, Mr. Olushola Ismail describes the situation, “The flood waters are still running and it will take a week to 10 days more to recede and then perhaps a month before the displaced families can resume their normal lives”
UNICEF has responded to the humanitarian emergency with urgency and dedicated efforts from its staff. In anticipation of the emergency, the UNICEF office for Orissa had pre-ordered and supplied essential items needed for child and maternal survival like ORS sachets, halazone tablets, bleaching powder and PUR water purifier sachets.

© UNICEF/India/2006

Girl filling water in UNICEF supplied Jerry can

After the heavy flooding, UNICEF responded with immediate supplies and assistance in the worst affected districts; with supply of safe water (104,200 pouches and 60,000 bottles) within the first 48 – 72 hours. The supply of safe water continued for three consecutive days for the women and children in the affected areas, especially the marooned villages.

On the request of the State Relief Commissioner, UNICEF supplied 100,000 bars of soap, 5,000 polythene sheets and 86 water tanks on an emergency basis, meeting the needs within 72 hours with the supplies being distributed and used by the beneficiaries.

Apart from these, UNICEF has also placed an order for more ORS sachets, halazone tablets, tarpaulin sheets, bleaching powder and H2S vials, hygiene kits and pediatric drugs to be supplied to the affected population.

UNICEF assessment teams have visited 6 affected districts of Puri, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jajpur and Bhadrak and coordinated with the district emergency administration in its relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Panchanan and other villagers of Chagarai have been receiving PUR water purification sachets, ORS packets and halazone tablets from the very first day of relief. “These supplies have saved our lives. All our water sources were inundated and we were on the roof top. The packets ensured safe and clean water for our children”, says Panchanan. His friends joined him in displaying them before the camera.