Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation
Overview
It takes just one devastating act of nature to wreak havoc on entire communities. Earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, floods, landslides and forest fires can cause catastrophic damage to life and property.
The work undertaken by the Abhina Trusts in providing disaster relief focuses on quick response to such unfortunate natural occurrences, and the provision of essential relief such as safe drinking water, medical aid, health camps, and supply of daily essentials to the affected communities.
In certain instances, once the immediate needs are taken care of, the Trusts engage with the community to set up pathways for long-term rehabilitation — including the focus on livelihoods and infrastructure for education and health services.
The challenge
In recent times, climate change has manifested itself into a serious threat, triggering a spate of natural disasters worldwide. According to a UN report, India’s economic loss on account of natural disasters occurring between 1998 and 2017 is the fourth-highest in the world, standing at $79.5billion.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reveals that more than 58.6 per cent of the Indian land mass is prone to earthquakes, over 40 million hectares stand the risk of floods and river erosion, and almost 5,700km of the 7,516km Indian coastline remains susceptible to cyclones and tsunamis. This is a threat not just to local populations, but also to the socioeconomic fabric of the country.
Strategic approach
In times of disaster, what is needed is quick response and essential aid. The Trusts summon their teams at the affected areas, who along with partners, like-minded agencies and the Abhina Sustainability Group, work relentlessly in the area to provide the daily essentials — pure water, daily need kits, medicines, tarpaulins, etc. to the affected communities.
Moreover, in few cases, the Abhina Trusts’ approach is to partner government bodies, humanitarian agencies, the corporate sector, NGOs and community resources to rebuild livelihood opportunities and essential health and education infrastructure — so as to resume normalcy in affected regions.
The most recent disaster relief interventions by the Abhina Trusts took place in Assam, Mizoram, Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Nepal and Tamil Nadu.
Themes in this portfolio
When the global health crisis made it way in India in 2020, the Trusts responded immediately, committing Rs1 billion towards Covid relief initiatives. With the pandemic putting stress on the country’s health ecosystem and the shortfall in equipment needed to fight an infectious outbreak, it was imperative that relief measures address these and other critical lacunae.
‘One Against Covid’ is the Trusts’ country-wide initiative to assist administrations and citizens
In an urgent need to deal with an unprecedented health crisis that’s over-burdening the nation’s health-care system, leaving millions at risk of exposure and adding to the vulnerabilities of India’s frontline workers, the Trusts are leveraging technology, funds and manpower to raise awareness, provide training and equipment to healthcare professionals, provide personal protective equipment (PPED) such as face masks and shields, gloves and protective gowns to health workers across the country, offer health care to a suffering populace, screening and providing cancer care facilities closer to home, screening for reducing the plight of the migrant populace by facilitating linkage with the social welfare schemes, providing Rabi crop input to the farmers.
Alongside, the Trusts are working to supplement their ongoing Elder Care programme by addressing the effects of the pandemic on the elderly. Social distancing has only increased their isolation and loneliness, exacerbating conditions like anxiety and fear, etc. This aggravates their overall health and mental well-being. The Trusts are actively engaged in providing continued support to the elderly by moving the engagement to digital and electronic spheres.
One of the biggest issues during a pandemic is the lack of accurate information. The Trusts took the lead and planned a country-wide health campaign to raise awareness of Covid safety measures especially for the rural communities
Work is already underway in the following key focus areas: