The humanitarian response to the hailstorm crisis in Manipur by Caritas India was effective and fast. The complete response was completed in a record 40 days. A learning and reflection session on the response was conducted by Caritas India to reflect on the response done in the last 40 days and see what things went well and needed improvement.

On 5th May 2024, a severe hailstorm hit Manipur, resulting in extensive damage to houses, property, infrastructure, and crops. It also caused injuries to animals and uprooted trees in the valley. According to the State Government of Manipur, around 15,425 properties were severely damaged by the hailstorm event.

Caritas India, in collaboration with its local partner, the Diocesan Social Service Society Imphal (DSSS), swiftly moved to assess the damage and plan the response. With the support of the START Network, a humanitarian relief response was launched Resilient Recovery – Strengthening Hailstorm Affected Communities in Manipur program to assist the 1,272 affected families with Minimum Expenditure Baskets, Shelter Kits, and Protection Services including gender-based violence awareness, in Imphal West and Imphal East districts.

Ms. Wahengbam Lily Devi of Patsoi Part-1 of Imphal West District, Manipur, expressed her gratitude towards Caritas India’s hailstorm response. She noted that Caritas India’s systematic approach and timely implementation of relief measures stood out compared to other NGOs that had only collected data without providing aid. The prompt support of Minimum Expenditure Baskets (MEB) and Shelter Kits was crucial for the most vulnerable and affected community members.

Reflecting on the 40-day humanitarian response, Caritas India organized a one-day Learning and Reflection Workshop at DSSS Imphal on 26th June 2024, attended by 103 participants from all project villages. The workshop, moderated by Ms. Roni Tumnam, Community Mobiliser at Caritas India, aimed to evaluate the successes and areas for improvement.

Mr. Rameson Monsang, Project Associate at Caritas India, welcomed participants and highlighted the collaborative efforts with DSSS Imphal. Fr. Sony, Joint Director of DSSS Imphal, praised the initiative for bringing together humanitarian response committees from 25 villages, emphasizing the importance of learning and reflection for organizational growth.

Mr. Thangsha Sebastian, the program lead thanked DSSS Imphal for their support during the 40-day response period. He also acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the team members and participants. Group discussions were conducted to identify what went well and what needed improvement. Participants appreciated the promptness of the response, physical verification of beneficiaries, transparency in the process, relevance of support, effective complaint and suggestion mechanisms, good teamwork, and community involvement.

However, some areas for improvement were identified. Participants suggested including more beneficiaries, reducing paperwork, developing rehabilitation plans, and encouraging more volunteers. Ms. Lily Ward from Imphal West district and Mr. Nizamundin IAG Manipur from Imphal East district shared their positive experiences with Caritas India’s professional and transparent approach, strong teamwork, and effective community participation.

Caritas India’s response to the hailstorm crisis in Manipur was commendable for its speed and effectiveness. The organization demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing the immediate needs of the affected communities while also recognizing areas for future improvement. The collaboration with DSSS Imphal and the support from the START Network were instrumental in the successful implementation of the relief efforts.