STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI:
COVID Guidelines Followed for Flood Relief Camps: The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has urged all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the state to ensure that the guidelines mentioned in the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for flood relief camps are followed amid the COVID-19 situation.
The COVID SOP on the Relief Camp Management has been shared with the DCs and Revenue Circle Officers to ensure the health safety of the people who take shelter in the flood relief camps. Some of the key guidelines include identifying additional relief camps in addition to the existing relief camps as per the population density of villages. A minimum of seven square metres of the area should be demarcated for each person to ensure social distancing. During normal times the area per person in flood relief camps of Assam is 3.5 sq metres.
According to the SOP, the number of toilets should be proportionate to the intake capacity of the camp. The setting up of an adequate number of toilets has to be done in coordination with the Public Health Engineering department. There has to be sufficient sanitation facility and enough supply of hand-wash or soap, sanitisers, masks for the camp inhabitants.
Medical support and health surveillance team should be available to monitor the health condition of those taking shelter in the camps daily.
Proper sanitising procedures should be followed to cleanse and sanitise the camps regularly. Kitchens and food storage areas are to be sanitised at least three times a day.
The ASDMA has already held a meeting through video conference with the DCs of the districts. Another review meeting is scheduled to be held between Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah and the DCs.
The ASDMA and the state machinery are all geared up to handle any flood-related eventuality. The government considers May 15 to September 15 as the period when the state faces floods.