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Rapid
environmental degradation poses a constant threat to
India and contributes to natural calamities. While the
monsoon rains between June and October is the lifeline
for the Indian farmers, the rains also cause devastating
floods in different parts of the country. During the last
10 years, India had to cope with some major calamities
like Super Cyclone in the state of Orissa, earthquake in
the states of Gujarat and Kashmir, devastating floods in
many states, especially West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu. Recurring and frequent droughts, often
severe, affected the livelihoods of millions of small and
poor farmers, agricultural labourers and those involved
in allied agro-based activities, resulting in food
insecurity and large scale migration. The mega disaster
"tsunami" was the first of its kind in India.
With the world's biggest tsunami disaster hitting India
along with other South Asian countries on 26 December
2004, it has been added to India's recurring hazard list.
Thus, natural, social and human made calamities make the
situation of the poor and the marginalized more
vulnerable.
LWSI began working in India in 1974 in response to
refugee needs after the Bangladesh war of independence.
The programme expanded to many states in India in
response to emergencies, with financial support from
international partners, especially through ACT
International (since the past 10 years), and with full
support and cooperation from the respective government
authorities. During its 33 year history, LWSI both
extended humanitarian assistance and enhanced the coping
mechanism of the people living in disaster prone areas.
Major response activities so far carried out by LWSI are
after major disasters like refugee influx from
Bangladesh, floods, famine, cyclones, drought,
earthquake, tornado and tsunami. The states where LWSI
operated for disaster response and rehabilitation efforts
are West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
One of our Strategic Priorities is to:
- Reduce the disaster and poverty related
vulnerability of the socially and economically
marginalized people through effective and responsive
emergency relief, rehabilitation and disaster
preparedness integrated in sustainable development
processes.
LWSI emphasizes incorporating the sustainable factor
while preparing the response/recovery plan in order to
ensure the LRRD (Linking Relief Rehabilitation with
Development) process.
Disaster Response Team
LWSI maintains rapid response teams trained in SPHERE
standards to respond quickly to disaster situations
across the country. LWSI mandate is to implement the
project activities directly in general cases and through
local NGOs in special cases. In addition to this, the
willing and capable volunteers, who are already trained
under Community Based Disaster Management Task Force
Teams from the nearby areas, are included into the
response teams. Depending on the duration and size of the
response programme, LWSI engages local volunteers afresh
to assist the core team to carry out the disaster
response activities effectively. Once the response
activities are stabilized, new staff are recruited and
attached with the response team to release the staffs
that have come on deputation from the core projects. Or
newly recruited staff bridge the gap created by the
deputation/transfer to the emergency response team.
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