On the Ground in Dera Baba Nanak: Addressing Critical Gaps in Flood Relief

At Sahyog Sanstha, our mission has always been clear: to empower women and children through sustainable programs that focus on health, education, and economic opportunities. While our primary work centers on menstrual health, single mother support, and underprivileged children's education, emergencies like the recent devastating floods in Punjab demand immediate action that aligns with our core values.

The Crisis on the Ground

Yesterday, our team visited the flood-affected areas of Dera Baba Nanak, covering six villages to assess the urgent needs of communities devastated by this natural disaster. What we witnessed reinforced why our mission to support women and children is more critical than ever during times of crisis.

The Devastating Reality

The floods have left families with virtually nothing. Entire communities have lost their homes, belongings, livestock, crops, and their primary means of livelihood. Standing water throughout the affected areas poses serious health risks, creating breeding grounds for waterborne diseases that could further compound the suffering of already vulnerable populations.

Community Response and Gaps

The spirit of "Sarbat da bhala" - the welfare of all - was evident everywhere we went. Numerous community groups and organizations have mobilized to provide food and basic supplies, demonstrating the incredible resilience and solidarity of our people. However, our assessment revealed critical gaps that align directly with our organization's focus areas.

What We Discovered: The Overlooked Needs

Personal Hygiene Crisis

While food distribution efforts are commendable and largely meeting immediate needs, we identified a significant gap in personal hygiene supplies - particularly sanitary napkins for women and girls. This discovery reinforces exactly why Sahyog Sanstha's focus on menstrual health is so vital.

During disasters, women's health and dignity often become secondary concerns, but the impact is profound:

• Young girls may miss critical days of education due to lack of feminine hygiene products

• Women in relief situations struggle to maintain basic health and dignity

• The absence of these essential supplies from standard emergency relief packages perpetuates the very issues we work to address

Medical Care Challenges

Another critical gap we identified was proper medical support. While many well-intentioned groups wanted to distribute medicines, we observed a crucial problem: medicine distribution requires trained medical professionals. You cannot simply hand out medications without proper assessment and guidance.

Our Strategic Response

Our team's approach exemplified the sustainable, community-centered methodology that defines our work:

Local Partnership: We collaborated with local community members who understood the specific needs of each family, ensuring our resources reached those who needed them most.

Professional Medical Support: We brought trained medical staff who could properly assess patients and safely distribute appropriate medications.

Targeted Resource Distribution: Focusing on the overlooked areas of personal hygiene and proper medical care, we were able to provide what other relief efforts couldn't.

Moving Forward: Restoring Dignity in Times of Crisis

This flood relief effort represents more than emergency response - it embodies our founding principles and demonstrates how our focus areas of women's health, children's welfare, and community empowerment become even more critical during humanitarian crises.

As we continue our emergency relief initiative under our "Let's Pray for and Help Punjab" campaign, we remain committed to ensuring that no woman or girl faces additional hardship during these floods. Every contribution supports our mission to maintain health, dignity, and access to education during these challenging times.

How You Can Support Our Mission

Our work in Dera Baba Nanak continues, and we need your support to expand our reach:

Immediate Needs:

• Financial contributions for bulk procurement of hygiene products

• Donations of new, unopened sanitary pads and feminine hygiene essentials

• Support for medical supplies and trained healthcare volunteers

Long-term Impact:

• Partner with us in our ongoing menstrual health programs

• Support our single mother empowerment initiatives

• Contribute to educational resources for underprivileged children

This crisis has reinforced why sustainable programs that empower women and children are not just important during normal times - they're absolutely essential during emergencies. Together, we can ensure that dignity, health, and hope are restored to every family affected by these floods.

For more information on supporting our flood relief efforts and ongoing programs, please contact: Shivani Sidhu: +917717366946

Sahyog Sanstha - Empowering women and children through health, education, and economic programs.

Sahyog Sanstha vists Dera Baba Nanak

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Highlights of our teams trip to Dera Baba Nanak September 5th 2025 (they visited 7 villages and distributed much needed supplies