JOINT RAPID NEED ASSESSMENT: KUMAR GRAM RELIEF CAMPS CONDUCTED BY: STATE INTER AGENCY GROUP WEST BENGAL DATE: 4 TH January 2015 DISTRICT: ALIPURDUAR, WEST BENGAL, INDIA Assessment Team: Name Prithwish Karmakar Shyamal Basumata Debojit sarkar Ranendra Sarkar Sanghamitra Dasgupta Pradip Sarkar Prasenjit Barua Nita Dhar Animesh Majumdar Debojyoti Chakrabortty Susmita Guha Organization DPGBS Jalpaiguri Seva Sadan DPGBS SRUDS CASA Rural Aid Rural Aid PRISM CASA IAG, WB Save the Children Page 1
Background Soon after the Assam Conflict on 23 rd of December 2015, Internally Displaced People (IDP) have taken shelter in Kumargram Block of West Bengal. Considering the situation and based on the initial feedback from associates, IAG WB has decided to go for Joint Rapid Need Assessment (JRNA) in four relief camps at Kumargram block with the above mentioned team. Time Frame 4 th of January 2015; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at four relief camps Methodology: Observation Interaction with the people affected, Key stakeholders, duty bearers Primary/secondary data collection Area (Relief Camp) (As of 4 th January 2015) Camp Name Male Female Children Pregnant Differently Total Abled 1. Salbari 69 71 135 4 nil 275 Jhirjhiri Primary School 2. Balapara 163 150 144 4 nil 457 Forest Village School 3. 121 142 160 5 2 423 Chengmari Community Hall 4. Madhya 39 32 46 3 nil 117 Haldibari Forest Protection Community Hall Page 2
Relief Camp wise household Information Camp Name Number of Families 1. Salbari Jhirjhiri Primary School 58 2. Balapara Forest Village School 71 3. Chengmari Community Hall 108 4. Madhya Haldibari Forest Protection Community Hall 28 Relief Items Received Food Tarpaulin sheet 1 each per family Wrapper 1 each individual Blanket 1 each per family Woolen clothes 1 each per individual Salwar kamiz 1 each per individual Shirt pant 1 each per individual Shoes / Chappal 1 set per individual Foam Sheet 1 each per individual Mosquito Coil, Candle, Match Box 1 each per family Tooth Brush, Tooth Paste, Shampoo, Hair Oil, Comb, Soap, soap powder 1 set per individual Utensils (2 pcs of Dish, Handi, 10 ltrs Bucket -1, Mug 1, Jug 1, Glass 2, Bowl 2, Small Tub 1) 1 set per family Nestum Horlicks Milk Powder / Liquid (amul) Biscuit Molasses Flattened Rice (chira) Puffed Rice Rice Dal Cooking Oil Salt Page 3
WASH Others Spices Water Pouch (PHED) Fire wood for cooking Bucket for latrine Water Tank and Tube well Broom Bleaching Powder 5 Drums (100 ltrs) for each camp Play kits (Football, Volley ball, Volley Net Key Findings Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): People living in the camps have access to toilets since there are temporary toilets constructed by Government for each camp, though very less people use it since they are not habituated to use that kind of toilets. Automatically, the families have started going out for open defecation or in some cases are using villagers land and river side areas for toilet use hence hygiene is a major concern in all the camp areas. Food for families was being cooked close to the toilets and lands which are getting used for open defecation. There is a chance of outbreak of an epidemic due to unhygienic and unsanitary conditions such as open defecation and absence of minimum hand washing practices prevailing in the camps. Drinking water is available through hand pumps and PHED department is supplying packaged drinking water too. Some of them reported smell of chlorine in the water; otherwise drinking water is not a major issue. Women and adolescent girls shared that maintaining menstrual hygiene is a problem. In 2 camps sanitary napkins have been given though many are not comfortable to use that; on the other side there is no arrangement for disposal of napkins. Food and Non-Food Items: In all the camps, 4 times food distribution by government is going on. Twice they provide dry ration and cooked food given for lunch & dinner. Milk is available for children. For infants, baby foods are in supply. Page 4
Utensils kits have been provided to each family though people are unhappy with less number of glasses & plates given to each family. Warm clothes and slippers distributions are sufficient to their need. What came out is they need inner garments. Blankets & mattress are also given to each family. Health and Nutrition: Government health camps are there in each & every camp. Sufficient medicines are in stock. Medical officer is attending the camps regularly. Immunizations for children & mother are not regular since most of them are not carrying their immunization record card or whoever is carrying its written in Assamese language which Bengal health workers are unable to understand. Deliveries are taking place in the camps which are however managed by Birth Attendants in primary health centre. Supplementary Nutrition was provided to infants. There is an urgent need to provide supplementary nutrition to pregnant and lactating women, especially to women have recently delivered in the camps. Protection In all the places covered during the rapid assessment; children constitute half of the affected population. There are cases where children are separated from their parents. Children are traumatized due to the incident. Since all men & women are staying in the same premises there is fear of being attacked during nights. Children and their families do not have any documents with them such as birth certificates/identity proof due to them having fled from their villages and having left everything behind. New born children in the camps also do not have Birth Certificates. Almost all camps are dark during nights since there is no electricity. In two camps, very nearby presence of elephants observed by the police person. Education Children are not attending schools in the camps. There are students who will appear for Secondary and Higher Secondary soon but they can study since they left the books and other relevant documents of their children back in their villages. There are two camps established in local schools are still closed. Local parents are annoyed with the fact since their children getting deprived from education and mid day meal. Page 5
Recommended priorities requirements Separate shelter arrangements for men & women Education kit for children Menstruation hygiene kit Private space for women Trauma counseling Protection from wild animal attack Shelter management committee needs to establish Advocacy for safe repositioning in Assam and asset loss compensation Note: The team met Mr Shiladitto Chakraborty, Block Development Officer, Kumargram. He mention about Govt effort to provide basic requirements in the camps. He also told that there is a discussion between Bengal & Assam government and by tomorrow two camps from Balapara & Madhya Haldibari will be dissolve and all the displaced people will be sent back to their own villages at Assam. He even indicated that if there is any plan to provide relief to these camps it is advisable to wait for few more days since there is high probability that people from rest two camps will also relocate to their own villages back in Assam. Action Aid Kolkata office also visited Kumargram camps and developed a brief report. Page 6
ANNEXURE 1 Persons Interviewed Name Gender Area Profession Contact Remarks (Assam) Number Mrs. Sumi F Simlibari Agriculture Nil Hembram Tapu Labour Mrs. Murmi F Binnabari Agriculture Nil Pregnant (9 months) Hembram Labour Mr. Shikar M Simlibari Agriculture Nil Hembram Tapu Labour Mr. Budhiram M Simlibari Student 09678788072 This year going to Murmu Tapu appear Higher Secondary Examination in Assam but presently staying in camp without any book / reading materials Mr. Samuel M Birnabari Agriculture 081360299068 Hembram Labour Dr. Tapas Sarkar M West Bengal Doctor, Visiting doctor in Kumargram Chengamari Relief PHC Camp Lal Marandi M Simlabari Respected aged Nil He himself taken person the initiative to cross the border and visit his village to check safety issues and then planning to go back to with his family Lalku M Fulkumari Adolescent boy Nil Seperated from his gram parents Page 7
Annexure 2 : Photographs Page 8
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