Sailing through Himalayan Tsunami A Humanitarian Response to Flooding in Uttarakhand

TIMELINE : Decision to Respond and gradual Engagement As per Save the Children SoP,  within 24 hours of the disaster, we mounted a major response to alleviate the suffering of those affected in ‘Himalayan Tsunami’  within 48 hours Save the Children team was on the ground  Targets have been set for 10,000 households  Mobilized Humanitarian Roster, established warehouse and our first distributions took place by the third day (within 72 hours after launching the response) Met the Honorable Chief Minister and scaled our work in close coordination with NGO Coordinator of Uttarakhand Government Save the Children met Principal Secretaries of WCD, Education, Directors of Social Welfare, Medical Health Services, etc and formed a Task Force with key departments Save the Children led inter-agency Multi-Sectoral Assessments in coordination with Child Centred Organisations and Government Departments SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN requested through a formal letter to Save the Children to establish CHILD FRIENDLY SPACES / TEMPORARY LEARNING CENTRES to start schools immediately. - A unique partnership that unfolded dynamically

Overview: Key sectors of engagement 3 Save the Children delivered comprehensive humanitarian assistance to 7,329 families across 143 villages in 5 most affected districts of Uttarakhand with its dynamic support. The response covered 14,148 children. Criteria 1. Single / Women headed households 2. Child-headed households 3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers 4. Households with sick, elderly and disabled 5. Households with highest number of children 6. Households reeling under extreme poverty / earning member is a migrant, etc. Rapid Relief Reach - ( 30 day food basket, hygiene kit, blankets and tarpaulins ) Overall Reach to 7,329 Households across 5 districts Children Reached :14,148 Child Friendly Spaces 128Children: 5,287 Cash transfer3000 HHChildren: 5010 Medical/ Health Camps 91 Children: 2,664 Adults: 6222 Household Kits2,954Children: 5,908 Adults: 14,770

Significant Achievements Sl noThemeOne most significant under each theme 1Education Continuity & Child Protection continued their education in a safe environment through 128 CFSs, Education and CP in Emergencies with SSA, WCD, ICDS at the state level and district level mechanisms 2Health & Nutrition Life saving support to 6222 people during the very crucial months of disaster response (Case Study of Janani Devi & SAM Child) 3Humanitarian Response Excellent coordination with State and District level key Government departments – WCD, Education, Health Very good media coverage of our response work both at national and state level Excellent feedback by the community, PRI, Block and District officials on the quality of material and CHILD CENTRED Approach ( first of its kind in Uttarakhand in recent years ) Sustained work in all the three phases Relief, Recovery and Rehabilitation as per the Response Plan Excellent coordination with the IAG and UNDMT team both at State and District levels

Challenges The hilly terrain, frequent landslides and adverse weather conditions were a nightmare in terms of reach and logistics! Non-availability of adequate number of doctors Shortage of adequate safe space to set up Child Friendly Spaces / Temporary Learning Centres posed constraints; but we surmounted them creatively. Transportation was a big challenge and the costs multiplied manifold. Most of the places have no regular electricity supply, health care centres or banks/ATMs – meaning that community members and our team members have to traverse for hours to access these basic services. Selection of real beneficiary was a challenge as in many places community members wanted everyone to be covered, irrespective of the loss and ability to cope back The windows of code of conduct during election days imposed delays in delivery of assistance – something that could be relaxed for humanitarian work

Some Successes.. “Money is too tight.” Kaushala of Karadi village whose lodge for tourists – the familiy’s only source of income and also their home – was washed away. She has three children to bring up. The family is living in borrowed quarters and she feels that there is no hope of restarting the family business any time soon. Lata is very happy. “Thank you! With that much money, I can buy a whole month worth of food rations!” she exclaims. She wants to start by buying warm clothes for herself and her husband.

Lessons learned and Recommendations 1.Children should participate in disaster planning and preparedness. Child rights framework in the state to be activated. 2.Children to be protected in the aftermath of an emergency. Existing state protection mechanisms to be re-vitalised, specially ICPS and incorporate Child CENTRED Response Mechanism within ICPS 3.Health and Nutrition an essential post-disaster service, especially for child survival. Existing systems to be improved to meet needs. 4.Education should not be interrupted in a disaster. Under RTE, SMCs and selected teachers need to be capacitated towards rapid restoration of education post-disaster 5.Cash helps families tide over disasters. Use cash transfers and livelihood restoration as a rapid response strategy across the state. Can we explore flexibility in MGNREGS to rapidly adapt it to disaster situations for fast tracking delivery 6.Training and counselling of children, teachers and parents on psycho- social issues and preparedness 7.Rapid visual survey of unsafe schools/AWCs – towards retrofitting / rebuilding 8.Fast track provision of lost records/ certificates to households, specially students

The smiles are coming back….. …..Thanks for your support !