Sabu K Kurian

 Need Assessment Report on Kerala Floods and Landslides Date:- Prepared By: IRCS, Kottayam District Branch as per the instruction from IRCS, Kerala state branch Background: Kerala has witnessed a high-intensity flood due to the incessant rains over the past few days. Residents are cut off in parts of Kottayam and Idukki districts as the rain started to intensify from late Friday, 15th October 2021. The worst-affected areas are Kottayam and Idukki districts, which received 164.5 millimetres and 305.5 mm of rainfall, respectively, since Saturday morning. The season’s rainfall data on IMD website shows that the normal rainfall for the period of October 1 to 19 was 192.7 mm whereas the actual rainfall was 453.5 mm. The heavy rains triggered landslides and swelled many rivers across the state. Roads are swept away, houses are damaged and trees uprooted. Several villages in hilly areas are cut off. At least 26 people have died in landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rains in this two districts. Five Children among are dead. There are fears that the death toll could rise further as many people are missing. Eleven bodies have been found so far in Idukki district and another fourteen in Kottayam district and thousands of people have been evacuated and at least 150 relief camps have been set up. Damages caused to the farms, rubber plantation and agricultural crops are beyond estimate at this moment. Tens of thousands of poor farmers, labourers and small scale vendors lost their livelihood, the entire geographical features of villages are turned into mud and stones. Government authorities, district administration and local bodies are currently working around the clock to rehabilitate the affected victims to relief camps and safer places. Roads and bridges are damaged, so it is difficult to access the exact damage caused to remote areas in Idukki District. Government Response in the current situation in flood affected areas: ● Authorities are working on the ground to assist the injured and affected. ● The Indian Air Force has inducted its medium-lift helicopters for flood relief efforts in the rain-hit districts of Kerala. ● Fishing boats are being used to evacuate survivors trapped in Kollam and other coastal towns as sections of road have been swept away and trees uprooted ● National Disaster Relief Force and the armed forces are rehabilitating 3,000 people and shifting them to different relief camps, one dedicated to Covid-19 positive patients. ● The Army, NDRF, police and the Fire Force along with the locals began rescue operations on Sunday morning at Koottickal in Kottayam district and Kokkayar in Idukki district, where over a dozen people have been reported missing due to landslides accompanied by heavy downpour. Search operations are underway for the missing persons in the debris. IRCS, Kottayam District branch’s emergency response IRCS Kerala state branch in association with Kottayam District branch has discussed the situation with district administration and local bodies and deployed their volunteers in the affected area also conducted a need assessment field visit. The IRCS, Kottayam District branch has decided to distribute emergency relief items to the flood affected victims on an emergency basis. The Red Cross team further plans to save lives and restore normalcy in discussion with local body administration by prioritizing the unmet needs .The immediate relief activities conducted were ● Distribution of Snacks kits to 300 families targeting women headed households, marginal and landless farmers and families with disabled members in Kottayam and Idukki districts ● Distribution of 150 hygiene kits along with Covid-19 safety kits including sanitary napkins for women and adolescent girls, sanitizers, masks, gloves, toothpastes, soaps etc. ● Distribution of non-food items (NFIs) to 100 families including bed sheets, blankets, nighties for ladies and children inner wears etc. ● Early recovery plan based on need assessment report is prepared and forwarded to IRCS, Kerala state branch. Proposed Response based on the Need assessment The proposed response aims at improving the living condition of flood affected communities in the region. More specifically a project which will contribute in overall effort to support the affected communities in recovering from the adverse effects of the recent disaster by building up the community capacities through provision of relevant assistance that will cover their early recovery needs and opportunities for rehabilitation. The response can complement the existing government relief operations which is insufficient to meet all the minimum requirement of the region. The proposed response has two outcomes 1. Reduce the suffering of the disaster affected households through provision of immediate relief assistance. a. Food assistance Provision of food packs to the 3000 affected victims who stays in relief camps. b. WASH items assistance Provision of potable bottled water and hygiene kits to the 3000 affected victims who stays in the relief camps. c. Non-food items assistance Provision of NFI kits consists of sleeping materials and Kitchen utensils 3000 affected victims as these items are lost during Flooding. 2. Improve the resilience and economic wellbeing of the disaster affected households by restoring livelihood. a. Livelihood restoration Since majority of affected households are farmers, the response should be in the form of providing seeds, seedlings, organic fertilisers, Vegetable packs, farming materials and tools. b. Shelter 130 houses are completely damaged and 270 houses are partially damaged & unsafe to live in Koottickal Panchayat itself, as per the initial estimate, Damages and losses caused to Kokkayar and other parts of Idukki district is currently unavailable due to non-accessibility. Materials for repair or construction of new houses which are fully collapsed during land slide should be provided to at least 400 households which are partially or fully affected during disaster. Priority has to be given to the poor families who became homeless right now. Construction materials can be provided to the families who can undertake repair or construction by their own house. c. Energy Protection Solar lamps or modules can be setup in the community, not only to provide basic lightings/communication but also to improve the security and protection conditions. d. Cash Transfer programming Further assessment has to be conducted to determine whether cash transfer programming is more appropriate or to distribute in Kind. Road conditions in some small towns are not passable for large delivery trucks at the moment. Making cash transaction or material supply using smaller vehicle is advocated in these area. Cash transaction can be considered for small farmers who lost their crops and agricultural plantation and small vendors who lost their livelihood. Security and protection measures has to be developed based on the final modality of emergency response. Based on the above real time situation, it is imperative to make genuine efforts in providing immediate disaster response and recovery activities in the affected areas of Kottayam and Idukki Districts. So kindly forward this report and proposal to IRCS, NHQ. An appeal to IFRC or CRC is recommended at this stage from IRCS, NHQ. Some of the images of the Flood & Landslide affected area is shared (L)Martin of Ottalankal house in Plappally, his wife Sini, children Sneha, Sona and Sandra, all lost their lives.