Azgar, 27, lives in Shalekura village with his wife and two young children. Eight and a half years ago, while ploughing with a hand tractor, he lost one of his legs in an accident. A former driver, he now assists his father in selling fish at the local market, earning between ₹100 and ₹150 a day - barely enough to support his family. The accident not only changed his life but also placed a financial burden of nearly ₹9 lakh on his family. After four years of recovery, he now walks with a prosthetic leg.  

His home is located on the southern side of the Chaulkhua River, where malfunctioning sluice gates prevent floodwaters from draining. As a result, water stagnates for months, making life even more difficult. “Even after the flood, we struggle to commute because the water remains clogged around us,” says Azgar. “If the water level rises further, people are forced to cut the embankment to let it drain. Otherwise, our home will be completely submerged.”  

Every year, floods inundate his home, with strong currents causing immense damage. During such times, his family raises their beds and takes shelter on them, but protecting livestock remains a challenge. Ten years ago, Azgar bought two buffalo calves, hoping they would provide a stable income. Now fully grown, the animals suffer in floodwaters, as the makeshift shed lacks elevated ground and walls, leaving them exposed to rain and rising water.  

With no sense of security, Azgar and his family have struggled to survive. In these difficult times, Habitat for Humanity India extended a helping hand, providing an Emergency Shelter Kit (ESK) with essential materials like tarpaulin sheets, a hand saw, tie wire and a spade.  

Azgar has used the tarpaulin sheets to create a protective wall for his cowshed and cover the fodder. “These materials have helped me in many ways. My livestock is now safe from the rain and so is their fodder. I use the hand saw to cut firewood and the spade to clean my home and fill the holes left by floods,” he says.  

As part of its Disaster Risk Reduction initiative, Habitat for Humanity India, has provided Emergency Shelter Kits to 329 families affected by Cyclone Remal in Dhubri and Barpeta districts of Assam. Each ESK consists of a tarpaulin sheet, covering sheet, hammer, spade, nails and washers, tie wire, rope, handsaw and a plier, helping them rebuild their homes and livelihoods.