Cyclone Michaung developed in the Bay of Bengal in late November and on December 5 made landfall near Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana experienced severe storms and at least 17 people died while 61,000 were evacuated. Chennai suffered estimated economic losses of several thousand crores as a result of the cyclone, which claimed 22 lives in Chennai and its neighbouring districts. In Tamil Nadu, the most severely impacted regions were Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, and Chengalpattu. Cyclone Michaung particularly devastated informal settlements along riverbanks, further aggravating the income and livelihood crisis people in such settlements face.

Specific findings:

• Extensive damage to houses and infrastructure, particularly informal settlements.
• Displacement of a number of families from low-lying areas.
• Contamination of water sources leading to a high risk of water-borne diseases.
• Particular vulnerability of women (specifically single women), children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
• Aggravated detriment and economic damage to daily wage workers and informal workers due to loss of livelihoods.
• Increase in price of food and basic necessities in light of the flooding.
• Difficulty in accessing drinking water in the affected areas.

Response of ActionAid Association (AAA)

ActionAid Association has a presence in the state of Tamil Nadu and supported those affected by the cyclone across the southern districts. The South Cluster team of ActionAid Association reached out to people and communities in the affected areas and supported evacuation and coordinated with state administrations in Tamil Nadu. As an initial intervention, hygiene awareness was raised and families in need of support were identified, particularly those in isolation. These families were linked with administration and received relief materials. The respective state teams swiftly assessed the impact of the rains in affected regions, supported by community volunteers.

ActionAid Association responded primarily in three districts—Chennai, Thiruvallur and Chengalpattu—by establishing community-led disaster management committees. Three committees were formed with 10 to 20 members, including women from marginalised communities, women with disabilities, youth, and local HRDs. The first committee meeting was organised to draft the roles and responsibilities of the committee members, set the criteria for selecting beneficiaries, and finalise the relief materials and the process of relief distribution. In the following meeting, the committee mobilised, organised and distributed disaster relief kits to 385 affected families, beginning with informal workers, collaborating with Loyola College’s Department of Service Learning.

In Thiruvallur district, tarpaulin was distributed by the Jesuit Migrant Service and ActionAid Association to 100 migrant homeless Irula families. On the same day, a relief distribution of dry rations was also carried out in Kottaikadu in Chengalpattu district to 400 beneficiaries, primarily Dalit fisherfolk. On February 5, 2024, relief distribution was carried out in multiple villages in Guduvancheri in Chengalpattu District. 250 relief kits were distributed amongst the beneficiaries in Melkalvai, Pinnal Nagar, Kalvay, Sembakkam, Egattur, Pandur, Kalivanthapattu, Nemali, Senneri Erikarai, and Karuneelam, focused primarily on families led by women and with single women.