Reported by Anuj Das

Jajpur: For flood-hit families in Jajpur, the disaster is not limited to submerged homes, damaged roads and lost livelihoods. For many women, the crisis has also taken away something more fundamental -- privacy, safety and dignity.

As floodwaters inundate roads and fields and make toilets inaccessible, women in several affected areas are facing a difficult and often overlooked challenge: finding a safe place to answer nature’s call.

Venturing into floodwaters after dark can expose them to snakes, leeches, injuries and other dangers. Staying indoors, however, often means suppressing their basic needs.

Some women are reportedly reducing their food and water intake to avoid having to step outside. Others are deliberately avoiding drinking water or going through the night without food because they fear the risks associated with using makeshift or inaccessible sanitation facilities.

Relief camps may provide food and drinking water, but the availability of basic sanitation remains a critical concern.

For women such as Sunita and Sujata Mallik, the floods have brought a daily struggle that goes beyond displacement. They are being forced to choose between remaining indoors and enduring discomfort or stepping outside and putting their safety at risk.

While floodwaters are expected to recede and normal life may gradually resume, the experiences of women during the crisis raise important questions about the adequacy of disaster relief measures.

Food, drinking water, rescue operations and medical assistance are undoubtedly essential during a disaster. However, access to safe and hygienic sanitation facilities is equally important, particularly for women and girls.

The need for dignified sanitation

The situation highlights the need for authorities to include sanitation and menstrual hygiene as integral components of emergency flood response.

The government and local administration could consider deploying temporary mobile toilets and other safe sanitation facilities in flood-affected areas, particularly around relief camps and densely populated communities.

Such facilities would not only address a basic need but also help protect women from health and safety risks during the disaster.

Disaster management cannot end with rescue and relief distribution. Ensuring that survivors can live safely and with dignity must also be part of the response.

The floodwaters may eventually recede, but the concerns faced by women during the crisis should not be allowed to disappear with them.