Credit: CNN

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the states of West Bengal, Odisha and Tamil Nadu suffered from devastating cyclones. Cyclonic storm Amphar was among the worst cyclones to ever hit India and primarily affected West Bengal and Odisha. Estimated economic losses from Cyclone Amphar were Rs. 1,08,388,08,50,000, or over 13 billion USD. Two million people in Odisha and West Bengal were evacuated in preparation for the cyclone, which made landfall on May 20. Hundreds of millimeters of rainfall was observed in some areas, and at least 35 homes were destroyed.

Cyclone Nivar, which made landfall near Puducherry in Tamil Nadu on November 25, forced the evacuation of at least 1,00,000 people in Tamil Nadu. At least 3,000 people in Andhra Pradesh were forced to shelter in relief camps. Shortly after Cyclone Nivar came the weaker Cyclone Burevi, which made landfall in December. Nine people in Tamil Nadu died, and electricity in many areas was cut off.

Response of ActionAid Association (AAA)

Cyclone Amphan primarily affected the districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, East Medinipore and Kolkata in West Bengal, while in Odisha it impacted Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Khordha, and Puri. ActionAid Association targeted livelihood support to 310 households in three villages within the Kultali block of West Bengal. Our teams prioritized families with single and elderly women, tribal people and other minorities during our intervention. We also supported families who are dependent on livestock by providing animals and food resources, including fishes, chicks and ducks, and the appropriate feed. In Odisha, we provided kitchen, garden, and seed support to a total of 879 families across the districts of Bargarh, Kandhamal, Nuapada and Sundargarh. We also provided 164 families in Nuapada with bamboo seedlings.

After the Nivar and Burevi cyclonic storms in Tamil Nadu, ActionAid Association carried out post disaster relief through the DPRF Fund using cash transfer. Cash was transferred to beneficiaries over the course of one month, through which ActionAid Association reached 617 female beneficiaries in the region.