A relatively strong and very damaging tropical cyclone, YAAS, tore through Eastern India in late May and impacted West Bengal severely. The damage from the cyclone was minimised by the large-scale evacuations by the Indian Government in the small Islands on the Bay of Bengal. However, in the islands of the ecologically fragile zone of the Sunderbans, 1000 people, mostly fishermen and families chose to remain at home and take shelter under makeshift tarpaulin sheets. The cyclone flattened out household material, destroyed the fields, contaminated the water and damaged the fishing boats of the families who inhabit it. Many families lost their livelihood and had literally nothing to eat in the aftermath of Cyclone YAAS.
Responding to this disaster a team from Operation Blessing India reached the location and identified 50 families that were dependent on fishing for their livelihood. As an immediate relief the families were provided with ready to eat protein and nutrition kits that included – flattened rice, puffed rice, roasted gram flour, chickpeas, jaggery and biscuits. To combat the disease that contaminated water would surely bring, water filters that need no electricity to run were given to the families.
Even after disaster zones are forgotten by others, YOU continue to help with the long-term disaster recovery process. Providing microenterprise and small business support to help recover jobs and get families back on their feet. The Operation Blessing India team identified 2 damaged fishing boats. The team interacted with the families that were dependent on the fishing boats and took details to enable them to rebuild the boats. The boats are currently being repaired and once it is completed then the rehabilitation of the families that were dependent on fishing will be complete. Contribute to this rehabilitation and help families back on their feet again. DONATE NOW!
