When Disaster Strikes: A Journey from Loss to Hope

In June and July 2026, Assam witnessed devastating floods that brought immense destruction to communities across the state. Thousands of families lost their homes, livelihoods, and belongings, while more than 100 people lost their lives. Access to food, safe drinking water, healthcare, and basic sanitation was severely disrupted, leaving affected families struggling to meet even their most basic needs. Assam Floods: A Crisis of Survival.

Although government agencies, NGOs, and other humanitarian organisations came forward to support the affected communities, the scale of their needs remained overwhelming. The devastation had deeply disrupted their lives, leaving many families with little more than the hope of rebuilding.

As part of its Disaster Relief initiative, one of Dreamer Trust’s flagship programmes alongside One Rupee Thali, Mukta Siksha Pathshala and Drishti Shakti the Trust conducted a flood relief campaign in Nepali Kuthir village, Sivasagar, Assam extending essential support to families affected by the disaster.

Rationale Behind the Campaign (Assam Floods: A Crisis of Survival)

• Dreamer Trust is organizing a flood relief campaign to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of families affected by floods.
• The campaign aligns with the organization’s mission of serving vulnerable communities during times of crisis.
• By providing essential relief materials, the Trust aims to support families in the initial stages of recovery.

Before organizing the campaign, an assessment was conducted to identify the most severely flood-affected areas. Based on the findings, Sivasagar district was identified as one of the worst-affected regions in Assam, where a large number of households were impacted by the floods. Assam Floods: A Crisis of Survival.

Assessment, Area Selection and Relief Programme

• Identification of Affected Areas: Dreamer Trust assessed the flood-affected regions of Assam to identify communities facing the greatest humanitarian needs.
• Selection of Sivasagar: Based on the extent of flooding and the number of affected households, Sivasagar district was identified as one of the severely affected areas requiring immediate support.
• Target Community: The relief campaign focused on Nepali Kuthir village and its surrounding areas, where numerous families were impacted by the floods.      
• Relief Intervention: The Trust planned to provide essential relief materials to affected households to help them meet their immediate needs and begin the process of recovery.

Objective of the Programme: (Assam Floods: A Crisis of Survival)

• Provide immediate relief to flood-affected families through the distribution of essential food and non-food items.
• Support vulnerable groups, including children, women, elderly persons, and other members of affected households.
• Collaborate with local authorities and community organizations to ensure efficient and transparent relief distribution.

Ration Distribution (Assam Floods: A Crisis of Survival)

Dreamer Trust volunteers, in coordination with local stakeholders, distributed essential ration kits containing rice, wheat, dal, salt, soybean, sugar, chudwa, muri, soap, and drinking water bottles to ensure timely assistance reached the most vulnerable flood-affected households. Around 700 households received relief materials through Dreamer Trust.

Ground Reality Section

Before reaching the affected areas, we had imagined the situation to be severe. However, the reality on the ground was far worse than we had anticipated. Although our team arrived several days after the flood, the area was still submerged in places, with stagnant water reaching nearly three feet and thick mud covering the surroundings. Dead animals were seen floating in the contaminated water, adding to the already distressing conditions. Assam Floods: A Crisis of Survival.

Many houses were either completely destroyed or severely damaged, leaving families without safe shelter. The situation was particularly devastating in Nepali Kuthir village, one of the worst-affected areas, where almost no household remained untouched by the flood. Waterlogging persisted inside homes, while families struggled to return to their normal lives

Household-Level Interactions

During the distribution of ration kits, the Dreamer Trust team interacted with several affected households to understand their experiences and challenges.

An elderly woman broke down in tears and said, “Why didn’t God take my life? My house was almost destroyed by the flood. The flood has taken away my entire life. How will I live now?” Her words reflected the deep emotional and material loss faced by many families.

Another woman shared, “Relief campaigns do reach the villages, but very little assistance reaches the remote areas where the actual damage is most severe. We are truly happy to see your team reaching us.”

One of the most touching experiences was witnessing that, despite Sivasagar being severely affected by the floods, the spirit of humanity remained alive among the people, despite Sivasagar being severely affected by the flood, the spirit of humanity was still alive among the people. Some families whose homes were comparatively less affected and located closer to the roadside welcomed the relief team by offering tea to the volunteers who had travelled there with essential relief materials. Even in the midst of poverty, loss, and hardship, their spirit of kindness and willingness to help others touched the hearts of every relief worker.

Role of Dreamer Trust

Dreamer Trust plays a vital role in supporting people affected by the floods. Beyond addressing the immediate needs of flood-affected families, Dreamer Trust created a meaningful impact in Nepali Kuthir village. Nearly 700 households received essential relief materials through the campaign. For communities affected by loss, displacement, and hardship, the organization became a source of compassion, support, and hope.