In 2001 there was massive earthquake in Katchh district of Gujarat. Hundreds of casualties were reported and more them 10 districts were affected. Bhachau, Rapar, Gandhidham and Nakhatrana blocks were almost wiped out.

To responded this massive disaster hundreds of CSO and religious organization reached there in time with various kind of relief material and rescue operations. Many of them have started temporary medical service camps and temporary operation domes too.

Gujarat’s major CSOs have formed one collective namely “Citizen’s Initiative” (CI) and started responding to this disaster. Initially CI had set its camp at Nani Chirai village and later shifted to Samakhyali.

CfD was part of CI and was given three responsibilities.

• One immediate relief to victims of earthquake in 10 villages of Bhachau block.
• Assessment of damage, injury and death in 21 villages of Bhachau and Gandhidhan blocks.
• Facilitate compensation availing process in Bhachau block.

Around 13,000 HH were covered by CfD team with the support of CI.

That time finds were raised collectively under the banner of CI but funds were received in multiple organizations.

1.2 Communal riots of 2002

Again, under the agies of Citizen’s Initiative (CI),Gujarat based CSOs have decided to respond. CfD was given responsibility of three relief camps Shahpur, Rakhiyal and including the biggest camp of Shah-A-Alam dargah in Ahmedabad city. CfD was catering around 4500 families through CI.

CfD played role in below sectors,

• Provide medical services to injured people in relief camps.
• Provide psycho-social counseling to children, youth, women and injured people. NIMHANSE team had trained CfD’s team and volunteers on psycho-social counseling therapy.
• CfD started activities with children and young people in cemetery under the dargah compound. Around 800 children were kept engaged by team of 22 people.
• Provided relief material to families living in relief camps.
• CfD had facilitated a team to document the loss and incidences people faced under the guidance of eminent advocates.

Partnership with:

• Care India
• Save the Children
• NIMHANS

1.3 Flood in central Gujarat in 2005

The central Gujarat has faces massive flood due to heavy rain in the catchment areas of Vatrak and Shedhi rivers. Majority villages of Mahudha, Nadiad and Kapadvanj blocks got affected. CfD stationed at school campus in Mulej village in a school with hostel facility with its team.

With the support of Oxfam GB, CfD had carried out massive relief and WASH program in 19 villages of Mahudha and Nadiad blocks with the team of 28 people. Provided food kits, hygiene kits to 9000 families in 10 days is time. Oxfam team was there in support.

Total amount utilized for this intervention was Rs. 3,05,319.

1.4 Nutrition and food support to children of displaced families in 2011

Massive displacement was happened due to construction of various beautification projects by state. Particularly families living on both banks of Sabarmati River, passing through Ahmedabad city were displaced. With the support of Save the Children total ________ children were provided cooked food and milk living in open at transit colony called Ganeshnagar in Piplaj area.

Total amount utilized was Rs. 15,00,000.

1.5 Relief to urban poor and widows in 2014

With the support of Islamic Relief Worldwide, CfD had provided 3500 dry ration kits to identified urban poor and widows in 9 municipal wards of Ahmedabad city.

A team of 18 persons was involved in identification of beneficiaries, procurement of dry ration kits, distribution of kits and documentation work.

1.6 response in COVID-19

Considering the situation developed by Corona COVID-19 pandemic, CfD has decided to intervene intensively in three areas,

• Provide support for dry ration for at least one month
• Provide sanitization material for prevention of individual and community health.
• Awareness generation on precautionary measures, need to follow by individuals and communities. The main target groups for this intervention were the most needy mainly daily wage earners, migrant workers, waste pickers, differently abled and families having critically ill persons.

Awareness generation campaigns were organized in most pro-infective areas (dense slums where mostly waste pickers and other daily wage earner living) in Ahmedabad City. CfD has supported 7748 families with dry food ration kits, 5557 families were supported with sanitization kits and 445 families were provided cooked food through community kitchen for 2.5 months.

Sodium Hypochlorite solution for disinfection was provided to hospitals including special COVID-19 wards. Total 4375, 5 litter jars were distributed to hospitals in Ahmedabad City.

These are respectively

• V. S. Hospital, Ellisbridge
• Civil Hospital, Asarva
• GCS Hospital, Andupura
• Central Medical Store of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
• L. G. Hospital, Maninagar
• Lokhandwala Hospital, Dariyapur
• Iqra Hospital, Makarba
• Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Ellisbridge
• Al Fazal COVID Care Centre, Juhapura

Awareness campaigns were conducted on personal health safety, hand wash technique, importance of social distance and wearing face mask, use of sanitiser and community hygiene practice in six areas of Ahmedabad City.

www.cfdngo.org/response-to-covid-19

CfD has mobilized financial resources worth INRs. 2,68,17,903 from its friends through crowed funding and from partner organizations.

1.7 Humanitarian response to ensure nutrition and food security

In years 2022, 2023, 2024 with the support of Islamic Relief Worldwide, UK total 14,000 families have provided dry ration kits to ensure food security of urban poor.

The total amount utilized was 3,38,69,579 INRs.

CRCG is active on protection of child rights in Gujarat since more than two decades. CfD is active member and also nodal partner of Childline India Foundation by holding Child Help Desk at Ahmedabad Railway Station.

2.2 Citizen for Shelter and Housing Alliance Ahmedabad (CISHAA)

This an alliance of CSOs who are working on urban governance and rights of migrant and unorganized sector workers. There are also academicians, city planners and technical professionals on urban development.

2.3 Janpath

Janpath is an alliance of all most all CSOs at state level. It provides variety of support from organization governance, management of CSOs and advocacy of serious issues at state level.

2.4 Inter-Agency Gujarat (IAG)

CfD is a state core committee member of Gujarat IAG. IAG does JRNA, DRR research and education, trainings and liaisoning with national and international agencies for mobilizing humanitarian support and implement through its local partners.

2.5 Alliance for Peace and Justice (APJ)

APJ is working in 220 villages of 29 districts in Gujarat with its six partners. CfD was the secretariat of alliance. The aim of APJ is promoting peace, social harmony and justice.

2.6 Sphere India

CfD is a member of Sphere India, a national coalition of humanitarian agencies in India, initiated in 2003 to promote Sphere Principles, processes and Standards in India.

2.7 National Alliance of Grassroots Practitioners (NAGP)

One of the aims of the NAGP is protection of rights of children in disastrous situation. Creating safe space, ensuring food and nutrition during shelter, proper rehabilitation of orphan children affected by disaster, DRR education in peace time in schools and CSOs. Butterflies (New Delhi) is the secretariate of this alliance.