4 December 2012 – Médecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders is completing distribution of Non Food Items (NFI) kits to communities impacted by recent violent clashes in Assam. Riots between two communities were first reported in July 2012 and soon flared into a major humanitarian crisis which left more than 90 people dead and over 400.000 displaced

For months the displaced population took shelter in schools, colleges and pre-existing public buildings. Relief items, including food, were mainly provided by various government agencies,  especially the provision of medical services from the MoH to the displaced population was commendable.

After monitoring the situation on the ground and assessing unmet humanitarian needs, MSF assisted the affected population. In Gossaigaon sub division of Kokrajhar district, which was worst affected by the violence, 6000 kits for shelter, kitchen and hygiene items were distributed.

“Currently the displaced population taking shelter in schools and colleges are returning back to their villages and most of them are staying in tents or temporarily built structures. MSF is continually monitoring the population movements and assessing needs that might potentially arise owing to these movements” says Dr. Swapan Kachop, Project Coordinator, MSF in Assam.

MSF is an international humanitarian medical aid organization working in India since 1999. MSF has worked in Assam from 2001-2007 in Primary Health care. Currently it is working in 7 states and is geared to address medical and humanitarian emergencies around the country.