State profiles

UNICEF rushes supplies to flood affected areas of Katni and Panna in Madhya Pradesh

© UNICEF/India/2005

Trucks being loaded with essential supplies for the flood affected areas of Katni and Panna

 July 2005 - UNICEF rushed supplies of essential items into the flood affected areas of Katni and Panna district in North Eastern Madhya Pradesh. UNICEF responded within 24 hours from the time the request for essential items was received from the district administration of Panna and Katni. ‘We stand by them in this hour of emergency’ said Tapas Datta, State Representative, UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh.

Three truck loads containing essential supplies such as water containers, plastic mats, buckets, shovels, candles, match boxes, mosquito coils, candles etc. were dispatched to Katni yesterday. Meanwhile two truckloads of similar supplies have left for Panna today.

UNICEF rapid response teams were deployed at Katni and Panna as soon as the floods hit the districts. The team members have been camping there for the past few days supporting district administration in the relief efforts.

‘As the water recedes it will be essential to prevent outbreaks of diseases that can affect people especially children, hence issues like environmental sanitation, chlorination of water etc. become very important’ explains Tapas Datta of UNICEF.  District administration and UNICEF are mobilizing young people to help in creating awareness on these critical issues. It is not just mobilizing people but also motivating families to support each other, he further adds.
Three truck loads containing essential supplies such as water containers, plastic mats, buckets, shovels, candles, match boxes, mosquito coils, candles etc. were dispatched to Katni yesterday. Meanwhile two truckloads of similar supplies have left for Panna today.Panna, another district located in the same region has also been affected badly by floods. The district is connected only by roads; the nearest railway station of Satna is about seventy kilometers.  As per the information provided by the district administration, about 60,000 people have been affected and more than 4000 people were in relief camps. Amanganj block in the district was worst affected.  People including children had been rendered homeless. Food grains and carcasses of animals were lying all over the place posing a serious threat of infection. Health centre was totally submerged.  A rapid response team comprising of Dr Vandana Agarwal (Nutrition Officer), and Dimple Save, a UNICEF team member rushed to Panna.  UNICEF team members mobilized Nehru Yuvak Kendra volunteers and areas supporting district administration to clean up the health centers, dispose off animal carcasses, and support restoration of basic health services. Dr Vandana reports from Panna – ‘while cleaning we encountered snakes & lizards’ but this did not deter their spirit and the team went ahead.