45,000 People Reached as Humanitarian Response Shifts Towards Recovery in Upper Assam

GUWAHATI, August 7, 2026 — More than 45,000 people affected by the recent floods in Upper Assam have received humanitarian assistance as relief operations increasingly shift from emergency response to early recovery and rehabilitation.

The response, led by Jorhat-based humanitarian organisation North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) along with community volunteers and local partners, has covered flood-affected communities across Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat and Dhemaji districts.

Support has focused on addressing immediate humanitarian needs through:

• Safe drinking water and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) assistance.
• Hygiene and dignity kits for vulnerable families.
• Essential household and non-food items.
• Emergency shelter support.
• Protection services for vulnerable groups.
• Early recovery interventions to help families begin rebuilding their lives.

With many communities now entering the recovery phase, Multi-Sectoral Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNA) are also being conducted in severely affected areas of Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat. The assessments are documenting losses and identifying priority needs related to housing, livelihoods, agriculture, food security, health, water and sanitation, livestock, household assets and community infrastructure.

The findings are expected to guide recovery planning and ensure that assistance is directed where it is needed most.

Efforts are also underway to strengthen coordination among humanitarian organisations, community groups, government agencies and volunteers to improve information sharing, identify service gaps and avoid duplication of assistance.

A humanitarian coordination meeting held in Jorhat this week brought together organisations engaged in the Upper Assam flood response to review operational updates, discuss emerging needs and identify opportunities for joint action during the recovery phase.

Although tens of thousands of people have already received assistance, humanitarian needs remain significant. Many flood-affected households continue to require support to restore livelihoods, replace essential household items and regain access to basic services.

The ongoing response aims to eventually reach 100,000 flood-affected people, subject to the availability of resources and support, with increasing emphasis on livelihood restoration, community recovery and long-term resilience.