A powerful cyclone, Aila, crossed over the Gangetic West Bengal and other parts of the State on 25th May 2009 causing huge devastation in the entire State, specially, in the Indian Sunderbans. Among the districts, South 24 Parganas is the worst affected by this cyclone. A large no of houses, property and agriculture land have gone under water leaving lakhs of inhabitants homeless.

UNICEF reported approximately 1.5 million people affected by the cyclone in the South 24 Parganas with an estimated death of 96 people.
Two Blocks viz. Patharpratima and Mathurapur-II are among the worst hit in the district. It is estimated that out of 15 Gram Panchyats (GP) under Patharpratima Block, 9, namely, Herembogopalpur, Laxmijanardanpur, Achintanagr, Sridharnagar, G-Plot, Banashyamnagar Brajaballavpur, Patharpratima and Gopalnagar GPs are in the priority list. Here approximately 98826 people are affected and homeless out of whom 44540 are women and 22742 are children. 3212 elderly people are also homeless. 9010 houses have been washed out completely whereas 8695 houses are partly damaged. Approximately 30000 acre of agricultural land has been submerged under saline water. Almost 10.5 kms of embankment have been weakened while at 84 points breaches are located.

In Nandakumarpur and Nagendrapur GP under Mathurapur-II Block approximately 12992 people are homeless out of whom 5615 are women, 2045 are children and 612 are senior citizens. The top soil of 4150 acre of agricultural land is has been wiped out, which would spell doom to agriculture. It may be usable at least not before three years. The sweet water ponds are full of saline water and no fish could survive. Almost 2 kms of embankment have been damaged, breaching at 13 points.

The victims of cyclone Aila in Sundarbans have to start their life from scrape. The need of the relief materials is huge. Rice, pulses, dry food Tarpaulin/Plastic sheets, drinking water, medicines (metrogyl, antibiotics, paracetamols, zeoline/halogen tablets, ORS, normal saline, antacids etc), kerosene oil and lamps, cloths, bleaching powder, soap reaching to the people is less than the requirement. Acute crisis of drinking water is everywhere as the tube wells and the pipleline tap are either submerged or broken. The resettlement and rehabilitation also has to begin soon. Else aftermath will be unmanageable.

Emergency relief by Sabuj Sangha :

Sabuj Sangha from the next day of the disaster has started its relief activities. Food grains, dry food, Tarpaulin sheets, emergency medicines, drinking water are being distributed in the affected sites. Emergency relief wing has been formed along with local Panchyats and Block Offices. The organisation is running 15 community kitchens in different locations in the two Blocks catering to approximately 10000 people. Network partners, like, NICE, GOAL India have extended support to carry out their relief activities. With the assistance of Dept. of Health and Family Welfare, Dept. of Sunderban Affairs, Deptt of irrigation under State Govt., local administration and other civil societies relief work is going on at war footing.
Sunderban Development Board (GoWB) has started de-watering through installation of pumps. Regional Health and Training Centre at Nandakumarpur and Outreach Medical Centre at Herambogopalpur of Sabuj Sangha, are working round the clock to render medical support to the affected people. Health Workers and Medical Team of Sabuj Sangha are serving the affected people on spot through medical camps. Further consignments of medicines, food, tarpaulin sheet, bleaching powder etc have been mobilized by Sabuj Sangha from Kolkata.

The requirements next to the cyclone affected people :

The large incursion of saline water will have deliberating impact on agriculture, fishery in the area. Special action plan for a long-term rehabilitation programme has to be carved out immediately to save the people and their livelihood of this region. Major emphasis should be given on flasing out the stagnant saline water, repairing the dykes, reconstruction of houses, livelihoods and preventive health care support. Temporary shelters made of tarpaulin sheets, bamboo logs, and food security for minimum six months is to be planned as immediate response for resettlement. Parallel planning is to be made for building of low cost disaster resistant houses. Aftermath issues like school-dropout, child labour and abuse, trafficking etc should be kept in close vigil. It is definitely a herculean task in front all of us to tide over the calamity.