Overview
VHAI’s efforts towards the sustainable rehabilitation and overall development of the communities since more than a decade after Indian Ocean Tsunami, Gujarat earthquake, Orissa Super cyclone, Kashmir earthquake, Bhopal Gas Tragedy have received high appreciation from the various stakeholders. Although we cannot mitigate the disasters, VHAI’s presence in the disaster affected communities helped reduce the sufferings and initiate a long-term development programme in the affected zones.
Since the Tsunami hit the Kollam and Alappy districts of Kerala, VHAI in association with the State partner Kerala VHS worked towards the relief and rehabilitation of the affected communities. The efforts have not only provided them with relief but also helped them to plan long-term economic sustenance. As a sustainability measure there have been through out efforts towards the capacity building of the community enabling them to manage all development initiatives with little or no support and assisting them in turning the disaster into development.
VHAI’s Relief and Rehabilitation work for J&K Flood Victims
(28th October – 2nd November 2014)
In September 2014, due to torrential monsoon rains, the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir has faced the worst floods in half a century. From 2nd September 2014, the state of Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining areas received heavy rainfall, during last stage of monsoon in India. This influenced triggered flooding, landslides and house collapses in Jammu and Kashmir. The areas affected by the flood were mostly districts in South Kashmir, which include Anantnag, Sopore, Pulwama, Baramulla, & Budgam and Srinagar the worst hit capital city.
The proposed locations of Island Villages, Dal Lake, Srinagar and Pulwama district have been chosen as they are among the worst affected and need urgent relief assistance. These areas are those, where the relief has not yet reached or is still taking time to reach. The above locations were also selected based on the initial assessment of the situation and identifying most vulnerable populations in hard to reach, inaccessible areas which not be getting access to state government relief.
The total population of Island Villages, Dal Lake is approx 40,000, out of which VHAI covered 250 families in islands of Tinda Mohalla, Balla Mohalla, Kand Mohalla and Akhoon Mohalla, out of 5500 population of identified villages.[/show_more]
VHAI Intervention: Orissa Cyclone Phailin 2013
- Mobilization of two teams immediately to the worst affected communities of Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur districts.
- Provision of immediate medical relief, which seems to be an area of considerable need due to inadequate outreach of the government facilities. Special focus was paid to the expectant women, children and the elderly population.
- An appropriate need assessment was done of the vulnerable families, i.e. women headed households, elderly people, vulnerable children and adolescents as well as physically and mentally challenged.
- Detailed dialogue with the local Administration about their relief & rehabilitation plan and to ensure that it reaches the most deserving pockets and provided assistance to the families and the communities in filling of the forms that were needed for entitlement of these facilities.
- Both the teams were accompanied by doctors. They were located in our already existing offices at Ganjam and Kholikote. Volunteers and supervisors who have detailed local knowledge of the community and the extremely good rapport with the communities assisted them.
