Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Risk Reduction

Caritas India responded to floods in Assam by assisting 900 of the worst-affected households across multiple villages in seven blocks. The project delivered WASH and shelter support, repaired damaged shelters, addressed protection concerns for women, children, and the elderly, and distributed hygiene kits to prevent waterborne diseases. Coordinated efforts with humanitarian partners, local NGOs, and government agencies ensured support for the most vulnerable families and promoted a safe, dignified recovery in line with Sphere standards.

Following devastating landslides in Wayanad district, Caritas India, with support from Siemens and the STRAT Network, assisted 900 households (approximately 2,205 individuals) in the worst-affected villages of Mundakai and Chooralmala. The project provided shelter NFI, WASH services, and multipurpose financial assistance. Implemented in collaboration with local partners and community members, the initiative met urgent needs while promoting protection measures and resilience-building within affected communities.

In the aftermath of the DANA Cyclone, Catholic Charities, with support from Caritas India, assisted 770 cyclone-affected households across 11 villages in Kendrapada district. Combining immediate relief with capacity-building, the program distributed climate-resilient seeds and poultry chicks to restore livelihoods, promoted climate-smart agriculture, and formed local committees for transparent beneficiary selection and grievance redressal. Partnerships with Panchayati Raj Institutions ensured community ownership, transparency, and alignment with long-term development goals.

Caritas India implemented this initiative in the Himalayan districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, located in Seismic Zone IV, to address high-risk hazards including earthquakes, landslides, floods, and fires. The programme integrated disaster risk reduction into health, WASH, education, livelihoods, and gender equality activities, while building both short-term preparedness and long-term resilience. The initiative also supported policy advocacy and investment efforts to reduce disaster risks and strengthen community capacity to respond to recurring hazards.

Caritas India implemented the Global Programme across Bihar, Odisha, Assam, and West Bengal, covering 13 districts, 24 blocks, and 72 panchayats, and reaching a population of 226,043. The programme strengthened resilience at community, local governance, and state/national levels. Key achievements included youth swimming training to prevent drowning, disability-inclusive disaster management training, and infrastructure and DRR initiatives driven by 72 panchayats, with a focus on capacity-building, inter-agency coordination, and best practice replication.

In flood-affected districts of Odisha (Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Puri) and Himachal Pradesh (Kullu), Caritas India, with Caritas Italiana’s support, enhanced the resilience of 3,000 women-headed households (13,500 individuals) through a women-led recovery and preparedness model. Women identified household recovery priorities, conducted risk and vulnerability assessments, received community task force training, and developed disaster preparedness plans. The programme also strengthened coordination between communities, NGOs, and government agencies to improve long-term disaster readiness.

During extreme heat conditions reaching up to 48.1°C, Caritas India implemented a targeted heatwave relief intervention in Banswara and Barmer districts, covering 50 villages across 19 Gram Panchayats. The project established cooling centres, promoted cool roofing using heat-reflective paint and tarpaulin sheets, ensured water supply to 3,200 households, and raised awareness on heat safety. A research study documented local best practices for climate change adaptation. In total, 1,987 individuals used cooling shelters, 592 households benefited from heat-protection roofing, and 1,645 children in 44 Anganwadis received ORS supplies, significantly reducing dehydration risks during the peak summer.