The 2022 Odisha Floods were a series of flooding-related events that lasted from August 14 to September 7, 2022. Caused by extensive rains beginning in August, flooding wreaked havoc in 12 districts of Odisha. Around one million people were impacted, 1,26,000 hectares of land suitable for farming was damaged, and estimated damages to public property totaled Rs. 126 crore. Low-lying areas in Odisha, including Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri and Kendrapara, were worst affected. In the long-term, these floods are expected to cause significant soil erosion, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and the improper maintenance of embankments along rivers.

Response of ActionAid Association (AAA)

ActionAid responded in the two worst affected districts of Odisha: Puri and Balasore. We reached out to 2,174 affected families and provided humanitarian support—hygiene kits, water and clothing. 1,309 of these families also received dry ration kits and tarpaulin for temporary shelter. In our response, we prioritised providing aid to vulnerable communities, including Dalits, single and widowed women, children, individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and sexual minorities. We also included women as we undertook a need assessment in the affected areas to determine the amount of aid to be provided to individuals and families. While distributing humanitarian support, the affected communities were informed about the price and quantity of the materials through banners containing the details of the relief material, including price and quantity.