Every monsoon, the North East faces the onslaught of flash floods by incessant rainfall and July 2024 is no different. In Assam alone, the flood has affected 24 lakh people across 30 districts. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, major rivers in the state are still flowing above the danger level. Kamrup, Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, etc. are the worst affected areas.
Effect of the flood on street vendors and other informal workers
Houses are flooded with water, household items are washed away, and people are unable to return to normalcy as they have no subsistence aid to survive. Most localities are still water-logged and the situation remained critical with residents facing a shortage of food, drinking water and medicines. As an organization having base across different parts of India, especially Assam, our team tried to know from its networks about the situation of street vendors. They have reported huge losses for informal workers like street vendors. Since they are mostly mobile, and their stall accessories tied to their vending carts, everything has been washed away in the heavy flood, forcing them to restart from the scratch once the flood waters set in. Even where water levels are not that scary, normal lives have been affected a lot as street vendors are not able to carry on their vending businesses, hence disturbing their subsistence patterns. “WHAT NEXT” is a big question among the vendors at present.
We request support from donors to provide at least temporary relief to flood victims so that they do not lose their lives in hunger and illness. Some very crucial aspects are-
- Access to dry ration and daily use items like matchbox, candles, etc.
- Access to personal hygiene kits like soap, sanitary pads and diapers
We stand in solidarity with the aggrieved. We would request you to support us in providing immediate support to affected people in Assam.
