Rehabilitation for Cyclone Affected Communities

Sunderbans –the world’s largest mangrove delta has massive substantial contribution in balancing the Ecology and making the Environment human friendly. Out of total 108 Islands in Sunderbans, India 54 are covered by Mangrove Vegetations that created ‘Reserve Forest’- a Forest protected for Wild Life.

In the other 54 islands of the Sunderbans Delta human habitations are present. But unfortunately due to lack of proper and ample livelihood opportunities for survival People living here depend highly on Natural Resources- more particularly the Mangrove Vegetations- Cutting and Collecting Firewood, also by collecting Honey and Killing Wild Animals whose bones and skins are sold.As a result to these human messy interventions Mangroves Vegetations are gradually disappearing. This has severe impact on the Environment here.

On the other hand the river embankments are also becoming unprotected and weaker day by day with massive cutting of trees. Hence, the frequent Natural Calamity occurrences are also hampering the lives of Sunderbans people.This, however, has made the Sunderbans people realise that Mangrove Plantations and their Protection is very important now. Also support is required to establish an alternate livelihood option.

In this context we are trying to create resilience through sensitization among vulnertably affected communituies in shore areas and thereby ensure plantation of Mangroves.  

In this regard we have started idnetifying most vulnerable communities and the areas; have established a Model Garden for production of Mangrove Saplings; started plantin g Mangrove saplings along the shoer areas and river embanments; trying to create a capciaitaed group from the impacted communities in shore areas who will take the responsibility of porotecting the planted Mangroves and finally spreading the message on the wider commyntiues within and beoyond the planbtation areas on essentiality of Mangrove Plantations.

This is a very difficult and long to run effort which needs consistent efforts and deep intervtions among the vulnerable communitiy level. For wider area spread of Mangriove planattions we need resources as well. 

We hope that you will surely extend your hands of support and make this efforts spread widely.  

Friends it has been quiet a time that we couldn’t reach to you. But we were passing through really bad times.

You may recall that last year on 20^th May, 2020 the riverine and coastal blocks of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore district of West Bengal India has been vastly devastated by Amphan cyclone. At Sunderbans in South 24 Parganas district the severity was much much higher. Here, the worst affected blocks are Namkhana, Sagar, Patharpratima, Mathurapur II etc. In order to extend immediate relief and restore the livelihood options of the severely impacted people in the three blocks (Sagar, Patharpratima and Mathurapur II) we initiated early recovery and rehabilitation activities with support from Corporates, Individuals and also different national and international charities.

The impacted people are still struggling for advancing towards normalcy. But this year again on 26^th May, 2021 another severe cyclone ‘Yaas’ hit the same regions causing massive destruction of houses, cultivation fields, ponds, fishing materials, boats and other livelihood resources etc.

Fortunately, with an excellent forecast by the Govt. Meteorological Dept. here major part of populations could move to shelter places by government and organizations like us with their documents and a very little amount of essential belongings.

River embankments got broken and vast areas got submerged. The very day also being the Day for Lunar Eclipse resulted to high tides and aggravated the devastations causing overflow from rivers and Sea- Bay of Bengal. Brackish Water contaminated the Sweet Water Ponds – one of the prime resources for Household Activities and Usage for Domesticated Animals- Cattles, Goats, Poultry etc.

Basic Livelihood resources for most of the population here damaged severely- Crops in the Cultivation Lands, Fishes in the Ponds, Poultries all destroyed. Many people here are still staying in the shelter places as their houses were damaged severely.

Also with decline of water level the Carcass of dead animals, rotten leaves there is high chance of fast spreading contaminative diarrhoea, stomach disorder etc.

We got extremely busy standing by the severely impacted impoverished people here- Now arranging for Fresh and Safe Cooked Foods, Safe Potable Water, Lime & Bleaching spread to arrest the spread of bad odour and consecutive ailments, Immediate Medial needs etc.

Thus we could reach only a section of the impacted people now

Yet more support is needed.

Appeal

Please extend your supporting hand to reach out to more numbers of people - to reach a normal liveable situation and also to restore the livelihood resources of such severely impacted vulnerable people of Sunderbans