Amphan Relief in West Bengal

A nine hours march of Cyclone Amphan devastated North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Purba Medinipur districts of West Bengal. Amphan made landfall on Wednesday, May 20 lashing coastal areas with ferocious wind with 180 km/hr speed and rain. Thousands of trees were uprooted in the gales, electricity and telephone lines brought down and houses flattened. The trail of death and devastation that Cyclone Amphan has left in West Bengal demonstrates, once again, the fragile state of eastern coastal States during the storm season. At least 72 people are dead in Bengal and normal life is paralysed for millions in West Bengal. There is an additional challenge, as thousands of people have been moved to crowded shelters where the COVID-19 pandemic poses a continuing threat.

Regions affected: The massive effect of the cyclone was experienced at Hingalganj, Hasnabad, Basirhat region of North 24 Parganas and Mandirbazar, Kulpi, Patharpratima, Sagar, Kakdwip region of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal

Impact of cyclone: • More than 10,000 houses have collapsed, • More than 50 casualties as of now and continues to get reported at local levels, • Thousands of acres of land under water, • around 60% roads are blocked due to uprooting of trees, • no electricity poles left in a standing position, hence no electricity • no network connectivity

Proposed relief activities 1. Provide Tarpaulin to the kuccha houses for immediate shedding their house 2. Provide dry foods like Puffed & flattened rice, Biscuits, Milk powder, Sugar, Sattu (barley), Jaggery for immediate help until they start use of cooking 3. Provide water jug, slippers (chappals), mosquito nets and candles for immediate relief
4. Provide basic toiletries like soap, tooth brush, and paste 5. Provide emergency medicines like ORS, Metronidazole, Paracetamol, Dettol, Band-Aids and Antiseptic cream