Assam Flood Response Project: Sustaining and Scaling up Shock Responsive Social Protection and Inter-Agency Coordination in Cachar District, Assam

The Assam Flood Response Project was implemented by Deshabandhu Club in response to the devastating floods that affected Cachar and Sribhumi (formerly Karimganj) districts of Assam during 2024-25. Supported by UNICEF through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the project aimed to address the urgent Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) needs of flood-affected communities while strengthening shock-responsive social protection systems and enhancing inter-agency coordination for effective humanitarian response.

The floods caused extensive damage to drinking water sources, sanitation facilities, public infrastructure, and household assets, leaving thousands of families vulnerable to waterborne diseases and poor hygiene conditions. Women, children, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged households were among the worst affected. In line with the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the National Disaster Management Plan, and the Sphere Humanitarian Standards, the project adopted an integrated and community-centred approach to restore essential WASH services and reduce public health risks.

A key priority of the intervention was ensuring access to safe drinking water. To address the widespread contamination of water sources, seven Emergency Mobile Water Treatment Units were installed at strategically selected locations across the worst-affected areas of Cachar and Sribhumi districts. These units provided treated drinking water to flood-affected communities during the emergency phase, significantly reducing dependence on unsafe water sources. In addition, the project, in close coordination with the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), distributed 1.5 million chlorine tablets to 3,000 households across 20 flood-affected villages. Community volunteers demonstrated the proper use of chlorine tablets and promoted safe water handling and storage practices, helping families protect themselves from waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis.

Restoration of sanitation facilities was another major achievement of the project. Floodwaters had damaged toilets and sanitation infrastructure, creating serious environmental and public health concerns. Based on rapid assessments conducted jointly with district authorities, the project constructed and restored 50 toilets across Cachar and Sribhumi districts, including household toilets, community toilets, and sanitation facilities in relief camps. These facilities restored access to safe, hygienic, and dignified sanitation services for more than 1,000 flood-affected people, contributing to improved public health, environmental sanitation, and the prevention of disease outbreaks.

To support household hygiene, 1,000 hygiene kits supplied by UNICEF were distributed to vulnerable families across the 20 intervention villages. The kits contained essential hygiene materials such as bathing soap, laundry soap, sanitary napkins, disinfectants, and other basic hygiene supplies. Special priority was given to pregnant and lactating women, persons with disabilities, elderly persons, female-headed households, and families whose homes had been severely affected by the floods. The beneficiary selection process was undertaken transparently with active participation of village committees and local authorities, ensuring fairness, accountability, and inclusion.

Behaviour change and community awareness formed an integral part of the response. The project organized 112 hygiene promotion and awareness sessions, reaching 9,367 community members across the intervention areas. These interactive sessions focused on safe drinking water management, household water treatment, handwashing with soap, sanitation and toilet use, menstrual hygiene management, solid and liquid waste management, vector control, food hygiene, and prevention of waterborne diseases. The awareness campaigns adopted participatory communication methods that encouraged communities to practice improved hygiene behaviours and strengthen household preparedness during emergencies.

The project also demonstrated the importance of effective inter-agency coordination in humanitarian response. Deshabandhu Club worked closely with UNICEF, District Disaster Management Authorities, district administrations, the Public Health Engineering Department, Health Department, Panchayati Raj Institutions, village committees, and community volunteers throughout project implementation. This collaborative approach ensured timely identification of priority needs, efficient resource mobilization, transparent beneficiary selection, and coordinated delivery of humanitarian assistance while minimizing duplication of efforts.

The Assam Flood Response Project successfully combined emergency humanitarian assistance with long-term resilience building. Through strong collaboration between Deshabandhu Club, UNICEF, ECHO, district administrations, government departments, and local communities, the project restored essential WASH services, protected public health, and improved the well-being of flood-affected populations across Cachar and Sribhumi districts. The initiative serves as a model of integrated disaster response and contributes to India's national priorities on disaster resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainable community development while supporting the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Key Achievements

• Responded to the humanitarian needs of flood-affected communities across Cachar and Sribhumi (Karimganj) districts following the 2024 Assam floods.
• Installed 7 Emergency Mobile Water Treatment Units to ensure continuous access to safe drinking water in severely affected villages.
• Distributed 1,500,000 chlorine tablets to 3,000 flood-affected households across 20 villages, promoting safe household water treatment.
• Constructed and restored 50 toilets (household, community, and relief camp toilets) across Cachar and Sribhumi districts, benefiting over 1,000 people with improved sanitation facilities.
• Distributed 1,000 hygiene kits containing essential hygiene items to vulnerable households, prioritizing women, children, persons with disabilities, and other at-risk groups.
• Conducted 112 hygiene promotion and behaviour change sessions, reaching 9,367 community members with key messages on safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and disease prevention.
• Strengthened coordination with District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), Health Department, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Panchayati Raj Institutions, and community volunteers for an effective humanitarian response.
• Promoted community participation and inclusive beneficiary selection, ensuring transparency, accountability, and equitable access to humanitarian assistance.
• Reduced the risk of waterborne and hygiene-related diseases through integrated WASH interventions and community awareness campaigns.
• Enhanced community resilience and supported shock-responsive social protection by restoring essential WASH services and strengthening local preparedness for future disasters.