The good doctors...

In yesterday's post Asit da mentioned the work of the two doctors who are doing their part on a island of 30,000 which does not have even a medical clinic let alone a hospital. I wanted to share some pics that I took one day in the make shift clinic.

A young volunteer, Rinku helping the doctors keep daily records.

*Subhadra (the lady on the right) volunteered her time distributing medicines and helping female patients. Her husband Arvind can be seen in the picture above on the right. Their own son of 12 was ill and would accompany his parents each day and rest in the clinic. Between their work they would tend to their son as well.*

There are plans laid out by the Samarpan Foundation to build a hospital on this island and provide the basic medical care that these folks need. My question is why is that the government has not done this. Not even a clinic. Okay, how about a monthly clinic, if not a permanent one. Why do private citizens feel the urgency and not the powers in being. Its hard to swallow the facts that people die here because of common treatable illness - which I think is a shame because we have come so far in medical sciences.  

To all the doctors who work so diligently in rural areas, to all those doctors who volunteer their time away from their families to help the needy - thanks!

-Madhu Reddy

Update by Asit Biswas

Update by Asit Biswas16 June 2009 119:45 IST
Our field coordinators Mr.Anil Mistry and Mr.Shanbhu Sinha Roy report:

1. Drinking water was distributed by our teams through to atjelia,Lahiripur,Chargheri,Jamespur and Dayapur,Sonaga & Pakhiralaya for ten days from 26 May onwards. This needs to be continued as there is still the crisis of drinking water in these villages.

2. Two doctors worked for the last seven days in our Bali health camp. Presently one doctor is remaining. These doctors and medicines sent by Samarpan Foundation have so far treated more than 1000 patients including serious ones. Even minor surgery also was conducted and WPSI interpretation Center has practically become a make shift hospital. We are hoping that we would be able to send another team of Doctors to the area on Sunday with stock of important medicines.

3. On 15 June, some members of Bengal Chamber of Commerce lead by a retired IPS officer Mr. Ramakrishna carried 800 packets of relief materials. Each packet consisted of a large bucket filled with Lungi, gamchha(towel used by locals), saree, flat rice, jaggery, biscuits and water. These were distributed to needy 800 families of Lahiripur,Chargheri and Kalidaspur of Chhotomollakhali where hardly any relief have reached. Our field coordinator, Anil Mistry accompanied the team and identified the areas and families for distribution.

4. A spotted deer strayed in Bali 9 village today. It was successfully rescued and handed over to Forest department field staff by the villagers.

5. In Bali Island 1000 ponds have been already dewatered. The Sunderbans Affairs Department and Development Board has given the responsibility of cleaning another 1000 ponds to our team today.

6. Mr.Bikram Grewal – Trustee, WPSI is going to take another field visit tomorrow on behalf of all of us. His updates will be posted on Thursdays.

A little smile...

In the few days I spent in the Sundarbans, it was easy to see that there are still some smiles left in the affected area. The kids especially have a lot to give back, their smiles offer hope and some much needed uplifting spirit

It was not easy to see so many people suffering and knowing that this suffering will not end yet. If conditions do not improve things might get worse with the delayed monsoons.If people are not enabled to earn and rebuild their lives, the suffering will continue. Among all the sadness, hardened looks of adults there were a few who smiled. We all commented that in a few more days when people will move on to other things life here will become harder, without aid, without help to rebuild people will soon forget smiles and anger will take over. I do hope collectively we do not forget this disaster, do our part in the short and long term to continue the fight to protect man and the beast in this area.

These are some pictures of those smiles I saw...

A little girl on a make shift swing...as soon as she saw me she stopped mid air but a smile got me this smile. My broken bengali I asked her if she was having fun and she nodded and said "hai" (yes)

 

On their way home...these are kids from the Non-Formal school which now is being conducted in the Nature Camp Campus.

"Didi bhalo ache" - they called out to ask if I was doing okay? 

I did not understand the little joke (Shambu da my local guide tried to translate but it got lost in the language dictionary ) but it was apparent that it bought a smile to her face. She was standing patiently in line for some relief. 

Back home in Bangalore India, I pray that these smiles of hope continue. 

-Madhu Reddy

One day at school....

One late evening I visited the local school on Bali Island. The high school building wall had crumbled away by the force of the water and wind. The Embankment near the school is currently being repaired, I can only imagine what the sight must have been 20 days back with water rising in to the ground floor of the school. Right against the left hand side of the building you see a lamp post uprooted and leaning against the building. But, its not a incredible sight, what is amazing to hear is that the lamp post was 200 ft away on the embankment. The force of the wind and water hurled it towards the building. The foundation of the lamp post is of concrete...so you will have to imagine. (Unfortunately I could not take any pictures at this school as it was pitch dark and the light was not enough)

The school has a huge crack on its newly constructed wing. The assistant headmaster showed us the gash that ran from the first floor of the building to the ground. The ground floor was completely flooded, the water taking with it the text books for the coming year. The building at present cannot be used as it deemed unsafe. Hard to determine if it was only the force of water and wind that did it or maybe the construction in itself was in question. Hard to say.

School book on the side of the road

Today, is the last day for the people who have taken shelter in the Bali High School to leave the premises. School was supposed to start June 8th but was delayed for a week. What is to happen to these folks, they do not have their huts. If a lamp post can be thrown hundreds of feet; one can imagine what happens to a hut made of mud and straw. Its scatters into the wind and with it the contents of the house.

(a little girl wandering around - in the area, would not say much when we spoke to her)

The children in such areas are affected the most. They are most vulnerable group. Physically they are prone to diseases, and mentally their stability is taken away from them. I read somewhere long back that a sense of normalcy has to be returned to the children as soon as possible. It gives them a sense of security and they are better able to cope with the effects of the calamity.

(Finally they told us they were in Class II and Class III)

With schools closed (not clear when they will open), text books washed away the future at present looks a bleak.

The other non-formal school right near the Nature camp is also destroyed. The complete floor of the school has given away. The mud floor has eroded away and joined the canal waters. Only the outer structure remains. A make-shift school in one of the community rooms is a start to bring some sense of norm to the kids.

The school floor now closer the river

So along with nourishment, medicines and clothes for the children, much needed school supplies and materials are also needed. Schools need to be started where possible, hard to do right now when there are not many permanent structures in the area. But, on the list of to do this ought to be somewhere on the top.

Appeal to the Face book group

The following is an appeal sent to all the members of the Cyclone Aila Support Group on the facebook.

Hello everyone!
Cyclone Aila stuck Sunderbans on the 25th of May, its going to be three weeks and as Madhu Reddy recently updated us from the field that in many places "there lies nothing in between the water and people – not even a single tree. It is impossible to believe or imagine that there ever existed a dike that ran few kilometers before the Cyclone hit!".

(More on her updates here )

The media has moved on to many other things and people have almost forgotten that something like Aila had affected lives of millions of people!
However those affected are still in Sunderbans and there are many reports of people moving to cities in search of livelihood and support!!

Can we get your attention for a minute?

We are about 500 people who are members of this group. Through the campaign we have raised close to 8000 USD from Denmark, Norway, India, USA and Austria. This mostly came from 8 travel companies contributing approximately about 1000 USD each. Some individual donations are on its way it seems.

Can't we (individual members of this group) donate small amounts and help the people in Sunderbans to have clean drinking water, repair their embankments, get them necessary medicines, food and a roof about their head. Imagine 10 USD / Euro / GBP or 500-700 Indian Rupees from 500 of us!! That's about 5000 USD and can be so useful for so many people! We are in the ground and we can ensure that this money is used sensibly, in a transparent and accountable way.

We are appealing to all of you once again to financially support this initiative. Donation details can be found here.

People of Sunderbans need this support. Can't you help us to reach out to them when in need?

Looking forward to seeing your support. Thank you!

On behalf of Cyclone Aila Support Group

Washed away lands - Madhu Reddy

June 13th - on vist to Satjalia, Kumirbadi and other villages in that area

Today I happen to see what Mother Nature’s fury had done to the land and its people. The devastation in the area is a combination of factors. Long-term factors like climate change, deforestation, erosion, and near term negligence from non-repair of embankments. The mangroves forests in the habited areas have given way to farms; the mangrove fringes that framed these lands have also disappeared. Nothing remains between the land and water. The man made bunds or embankments have now given way as well. The balance between land and water, in time has changed by man. The answer is pretty simple, bring the mangroves back, the forest back and man will survive. And we have to do this.

While we think of long-term solutions, the situation at hand is pretty dire for some. Some of the most affected areas are still submerged in knee-deep waters. Hamlets have washed away and those who have taken shelter in permanent structures in the area (like schools) have only till Monday, June 15th to find other solutions. They will be compensated for the loss of their homes, Rs 6000. But, to build a semi permanent structure costs at least 20,000 rupees. Right now, some of these folks have moved to higher ground, some onto the road, have temporary shelter and have managed to salvage what little they have. But some do not even have utensils to bring water from the tube wells.

In some of the villages, there are tube wells. Most of them seem to be fine. The water does not seem brackish and that is a good sign. But, looks can be misleading. Water is needed in those villages that do not have tube wells. Private relief vessels do not know which areas really need water, unnecessary bottled water (meager amounts) are being distributed. Best would be to coordinate relief efforts with those who have local knowledge and understand what really are the needs of people. Relief is not reaching those who are inland. Distribution is limited to one point and many have to walk miles. By the time they come, hardly anything left for them. The solution would be to work with the local panchayat and get to those who are unable to access relief, have couple of distrubuting points in a village.

The other aspect of relief distribution is worth a thought. It’s being spread too thin. One relief packet contained a lungi, gumcha (a scarf used by many in this area), a water bottle, a small packet of oil, a packet of rice and daal. In other instances a saree instead of Lungi. This is not enough for a family of 4 for more than two days. Not sure what the answer is, but seems like instead of spreading thin relief agencies should adopt a certain sq km and help those in that area. Effort among all the agencies is not coordinated, so its not possible to know who has give what, where.

To those who give clothes in donation, please try and donate items that do not take away the dignity of the people. Donating salwaar kameez in area where saree’s are worn is not the answer. The condition of the clothes should be reasonable, if the people reject something that takes their sense of identity away. I have seen clothes thrown away near the embankments. Now they litter the land. At the Nature Camp yesterday, effort was made to sort out the clothes. Discard items that were unbearable and kids clothes were sorted by age group and sex. A little work upfront can help those on the ground.

On the positive side its great that even this little help is coming to the area. Private citizens are indeed making an effort to lend a hand. A group of businessmen from Kolkata donated materials to about 1000 people. Today, I heard that couple more private groups and companies have donated some food and clothing in the area. So far I have not seen any government relief. Not saying they have not at all but in the 4 days here I have not. The government has mobilized work on the embankments. Temporary measures are being taken so that permanent work can continue after the monsoons.

Yes, the monsoons will come. They are much needed as the soil has become saline and heavy rains can wash away the salt. Otherwise these lands will not be cultivated this season. Some of the farms are still water logged. What about the seed for the next crop? Every farmer keeps a certain amount of seed for the next cycle. But, most have been unable to salvage anything from their homes. The hunger cycle might continue for a longer time if proper survey of this need is not made. It was a passing thought from one of the managers at the Nature Camp. One that somebody needs to ponder about, and take action.

p.s please note that these are my personal accounts and my humble opinions are my own.

Madhu Reddy reports from Sunderbans

Reached Sundarbans in pitch darkness except the blanket of stars. I am based on the Bali Island, where the Help Tourism runs a Nature Camp. The two volunteer doctors from Samparan Foundation filled me in over dinner over how the situation was. And to top it all they had started with the bare minimum of medicines. After a quick dinner they took me to see their admitted patient.

No, there is no hospital or clinic here on this island. The community hall of the Nature Camp has been converted to a make shift clinic. The baby hangs by a small thread of hope; she has severe pneumonia and her mother high fever. By morning when I check on them again the two doctors have stayed round the clock to make sure mother and child get their required medicine every 3 hours. The whole next day while other patient are being seen all around, this young family is on the cot in the middle.


The younger of the two doctors, a pediatrician, attending to his young patient among the others who are coming. A 40-year old male came with severe dehydration, high fever and fatigue. The family bought him over in a make shift stretcher. Even two days later as I write he is still at the make shift clinic – doctors not too happy with his slow progress. The young baby was discharged after 2 days. Some good news.

Most of the other patients were given the medicines and strict instructions and sent home as the open area clinic at night was dangerous – snakes and the ever present danger of the Tiger. The core forest area was only a 20 min swim away for the Tiger. Snakes, some of the most poisonous in the world reside here – anti venom drugs at least 8 hours away. Anti venom needs to be refrigerated, even the Nature Camp runs on generator for few hours.

A mother with two daughters aged 9 and 5. She herself is only 28 and at 5ft 3 or so only at 34 kilos. Her daughters a little better nourished than her. All suffering some mild diarrhea.

A severe case of carpal-tunnel syndrome. In these areas something like this could mean that the woman cannot perform simple tasks – major one being bringing much needed water home from the tube wells. The doctors give her a painful steroid injection, which will allow her to be normal for a few months to come.

A young girl with Thalasimia. She needs a blood transfusion in the next couple of days. Once again no blood bank in the area. Electricity does have its uses.

An 11-year-old girl with a 4-5 day old nasal fracture and infected polyp. Doctors could not do anything, beyond the capability of this clinic.

The word has spread that doctors are here, the sick are on their way and fortunately the medicines have come too. This temporary facility exists only at one island of 30,000 people. What about the others?

Input from Madhu Reddy. See more of her pictures here.

An appeal

(REUTERS/Andrew Biraj)

Two weeks ago Cyclone Aila ravaged eastern India and Bangladesh. In the Sunderbans, the scenic islands and mangrove forests set in the Gangetic delta, the wind, the tidal waves and the flood destroyed or damaged over 500,000 houses. Over 150,000 people lost their homes, fields, work equipment and livelihoods. Many of them lost their breadwinners or other family members.

With the disaster killing their cattle and rendering their farmlands saline and infertile for many months or even years, it is a very grim outlook for the people here. In India and Bangladesh an estimated five million people are affected in one way or the other.

Heavy monsoon rains are predicted in few days to come – a grim forecast considering that many of the affected families are left with no proper shelter.

To prevent more floods, the local communities with support from the government, military and NGOs have been desperately trying to repair embankments to prepare for the monsoon.

Still effective disaster management is not on track yet. There is a lack of basic necessities like water, staple food and medical assistance. While some delta islands have received relief items, many others have got nothing. Health workers fear that lack of water and sanitation facilities may lead to outbreak of epidemics. Already there are cases of diarrhoea. Children will go hungry on under-nourished.

The media grossly under-reported the impact of the disaster and failed to predict its aftermath. It was actually a precursor another calamity with the fierce annual monsoon rains imminent.

In a rapid response to the appeal of our local partners in the Sunderbans, The Blue Yonder, Traveltocare.com and Help Tourism have set up the Cyclone Aila Support Group to help local communities in peril in the Sunderbans Region. Our local partner, the Association for Conservation and Tourism (ACT), was in the field during and immediately after the cyclone and is currently stretching its resources to reach out to people at the earliest.

The Cyclone Aila Support Group has partnered with the well-known Charities Aid Foundation – India (CAF India) to help manage an accountable and transparent fund raising process. The ACT and the West Bengal Voluntary Health Association (WBVHA) are co-ordinating relief efforts on the ground.

The Cyclone Aila Support Group is committed to supporting the long-term rehabilitation of the Sunderbans region and we need all your support – for now and for the future!

We urge governments, public and private organisations, and fellow human beings to wake up to this disaster and the impending tragedy that is about to unfold. Kindly support the people in need!!

How you can make a difference?

Rs 50 or one euro: Drinking water for five families for one day.
Rs 50 or one euro: Epidemic protection for one week
Rs 250 or five euros: Buys 10 flashlights to protect against snakebites and accidents
Rs 500 or 10 euros: Food for 50 people for one day
Rs 500 or ten euros: Enough food supply for one family for two weeks
Rs 2500 or 50 euros: People in a small village do not have to sleep under open sky
Rs 5000 or 100 euros: Transportation and supplies with one boat

We can make a difference!Check the website for more updates from field and on how to donate efficiently.

Still not a national calamity?

A flooded village is seen in this aerial view taken from an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter in the Cyclone-hit area of Patharpatima Island in the Sundarbans delta, about 100 km (62 miles) south of Kolkata, India on May 27, 2009. (REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw)

Though exact numbers are yet to come, its been reported widely in various media by relief agencies and those who are directly involved in the disaster relief work in the aftermath of the the Cyclone Aila on the devastation that has happened in Eastern India.

After two weeks, Central Government team is still evaluating whether Aila should be declared a National Calamity or not! About 2 million people affected in Sunderbans region itself, close to 5 million people affected in the Eastern part of the country.

Indian Express has a report on this

More updates from the field

08 June 2009 19:39 IST
1. With support from our partner Samarpan Foundation a team of Doctors along with a consignment of essential medicines left for Bali Island today. They will hold medical camps in Bali and adjoining Islands for next few days to attend the medical problems and diseases erupted in the aftermath of Cyclone Aila.

2. A second team will follow after three days.

3. With financial support from our Partner WPSI couple of pump sets has been already made available in Bali and other Islands for pumping the stranded saline water out from the village ponds and fields.

4. No further inundation is reported with the end of the spring tide on last Sunday. The next tide is expected from 22nd June.

5. The accumulation of saline water due to the tides and breaching of embankments followed by the contamination has given unprecedented rise to the mosquito population which in turn might spread infectious diseases in the Islands. Medical teams sent by Indian Army, government departments and NGOs have reached many Islands today although Relief and medical teams have not yet set foot in many interior areas. People there complained that the relief support was reaching to the bank of the Island only and not to the interior villages. There is unconfirmed report of five Diarrhea deaths in Satjelia Island.

6. Few defunct tube wells have already been repaired in some villages. Sunderbans Development Board has started to erect new ones as well.

Posted by Asit Biswas

Useful links in single page

All news updates related to Cyclone Aila are now available in a single page. If you come across any news update that are not mentioned here, please write to us in the following order

Head Line
News Agency - Time on publication
URL

For eg:

Health horror unfolds in Sunderbans
2 Jun 2009, 0501 hrs IST, Caesar Mandal, TNN
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Health-horror-unfolds-in-Sunderbans/articleshow/4606063.cms

Prekäre Lage in den Sunderbans

This short report in German was compiled by Birgit Berman for One World

Hilfe, die nicht eintrifft hat manchmal verheerendere Folgen als die eigentliche Katastrophe - wie derzeit in den Sunderbans in Ostindien. Das riesige Deltagebiet wurde am 25. Mai vom Zyklon Aila verwüstet.

Obwohl der Wirbelsturm verhältnismäßig wenige Todesopfer gefordert hat, sind die Auswirkungen für die Menschen in den Sunderbans einschneidend lebensverändernd. Drei Millionen Menschen sind dort von den Folgen des Zyklons direkt betroffen, 500 000 Häuser sind ganz oder teilweise zerstört, der meiste Viehbestand ist verendet. Durch Überschwemmungen mit dem salzhaltigen Wasser des Deltas sind die Felder für mindestens ein Jahr unbrauchbar geworden. Viele Menschen müssen nach wie vor unter freiem Himmel schlafen. Die Helfer in der Region fürchten das Ausbrechen von Seuchen, mit denen die Opferzahl massiv ansteigen könnte, wenn Hilfe nicht bald eintrifft und auch die bisher unzugänglichen Gebiete erreicht.

Noch immer ist die Trinkwasserversorgung nicht gewährleistet, Nahrungsmittel und medizinische Hilfe werden dringend benötigt. Die Katastrophenhilfe der indischen Regierung kommt nur langsam auf Touren, die meiste Last wird von engagierten NGO's vor Ort getragen. Asit Biswas von ACT (Association for Conservation and Tourism) ist seit dem ersten Tag nach Aila in den Sunderbans unterwegs um die Lage ständig neu zu bewerten und die Hilfe zu koordinieren und umzusetzen. In Österreich ist die Diakonie mit ACT eine Kooperation eingegangen und hat ein Spendenkonto eingerichtet. Eine internationale Fundraising-Initiative ist angelaufen, die trotz der marginalen Medienberichterstattung über die dramatischen Folgen des Zyklons versucht, Spendengelder für die Menschen in den Sunderbans aufzutreiben. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.

Military brought in again

The following is the update from Asit Biswas received on 5th June 2009 1830 IST

1. The Indian Army has already started sending special task force to Sunderbans. The special rescue, relief and medical teams from the Army reached to the Islands today to provide the much-awaited support for evacuation, relief operation and reconstruction. Common people are of the opinion that such steps should have been taken much earlier.

2. The government departments seem to have been able to establish a basic coordination concerning relief operations. Each consignment is now being sent under the joint supervision of representatives from the Police, District administration and village councils making the relief operation quite smooth and democratic.

3. The carcass of dead animals (cattle) could be removed from the rivers and many villages excepting places like Kumirmari, Choto Mollakhali, Shamshernagar. These areas are affected by the full moon tide as well. There is no report of any attempt to repair the embankments here. People are already being evacuated from Kumirmari, Choto Mollakhali, Amtoli, Lahiripur, Satjelia and Kachukhali. In the mean while Calcutta Port Trust which keeps track of the tides in Hoogly river has issued an alert saying that the next tide scheduled to hit the Islands on 22nd June would bring higher waves than the current one. The government is planning to procure a barge to extract soil from underwater to repair the embankments as there is acute shortage of clay locally. The embankments will have to brave few more tides before the proper repairing work can be started.

4. The drinking water situation continues to remain same with enteric spreading in many areas. There are contradictory figures supplied by government department and health NGOs working there as to the number of villagers suffering from the disease.

5. There remains huge confusion concerning the amount of ad-hoc compensation announced by the government for rebuilding the smashed houses in the villages. The villagers do not know how much money they will get, from whom, when and how.

6. While death follows as an obvious penalty when a snake sneaks in a house after flood sweeps away its nest and is eventually detected, the villagers of Bijayanagr 3 proved an exception by rescuing a Banded Krait today. It was trying to take shelter in Mr.Sunil Mondal’s house. They rescued the snake alive and handed over to the forest department officials. A little love made a positive difference on the World Environment Day.

For Cyclone Aila 2009 Support Group
Asit Biswas, Calcutta, India.

Launching

This group was set up in the wake of un-imaginable damage that Cyclone Aila has caused in the Eastern India and Bangladesh that traumatised the lives of millions of people. Grossly under-reported, this disaster is fighting for attention. Though Government and aid agencies are doing their level best, many remote areas still remain marooned and out of reach of any support, even after 24th May when the cyclone first formed in the Bay of Bengal.

This blog will update you about status from various locations, initiatives on fund raising, personal stories, learning and failures, and how we are going to be engaged as a group to be there for the Cyclone affected regions of Eastern India, especially in the regions of Sunderbans.

Please do come back for the next update!
Cyclone Aila Support Group