United Nations offers to help India in dealing Assam flood

The United Nations has extended support to the Government of India if required, as devastating floods in Assam have displaced lakhs and killed more than 100 people, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said.

“Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that nearly 4 million people were displaced in the state of Assam in India and neighbouring Nepal due to heavy flooding from monsoon rains, with the death tally at 189. The United Nations stands ready to support the Government of India if required,” Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing on July 20^th, 2020.

He noted that in Nepal authorities have urged people living along riverbanks and low-land areas in the Terai region to move to safe sites due to the possibility of floods.

“Access is the biggest challenge, with search-and-rescue efforts being hampered by landslides in remote areas,” he said.

Also read: Assam: Flood continues to wreak havoc, death toll rises to 85

The ravaging annual floods have claimed a total of 85 lives so far in Assam. A total of 24 districts are reeling under floodwaters, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority.

A total of 24,30,502 people and 1,09,600.53 hectares of cropland across 2254 villages have been affected by the flood so far. 9,45,600 big animals, 474629 small animals and 970123 poultry are also affected.

Several rivers including the mighty Brahmaputra in different parts of Assam are flowing above danger level, causing floods and consequently leaving thousands of families homeless.

The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Neematighat in Jorhat and Dhubri. Jia Dharali at NT Road Crossing and Kopili at Nagaon and Dhansiri at Numaligarh.

As per the latest data, the flood-affected districts are Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Karbi-Anglong and Cachar. A total of 468 relief camps have been installed. In the relief camps, there are so far 50,559 people.

Meanwhile, the Kaziranga National park is badly affected with 85% area submerged and according to Forest department report, a total of 113 animals have died in this flood season and 140 animals have been rescued.

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