Cyclone Amphan
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In recent years, climate change has led to changes in the frequency, intensity and spatial extent of cyclones. Communities living along transboundary river basins of South Asia are among the most vulnerable to extreme weather events. In many disaster-pron

In recent years, climate change has led to changes in the frequency, intensity and spatial extent of cyclones. Communities living along transboundary river basins of South Asia are among the most vulnerable to extreme weather events. In many disaster-prone villages, people reduce the damage of floods by erecting truss-out bamboo scaffolding along the riverbank. (Photo: Enamul Khan Siddique/ Oxfam)


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The Situation

Cyclone Amphan barrelled into north-east India and the Bangladesh coast from 20 to 21 May 2020, claiming the lives of over 100 people, destroying the homes of at least 500,000 and devastating the lives of over 13 million. The low-lying coastal communities are the hardest hit. It has left a trail of devastation with destroyed crops and fallen trees. In many rural communities, a large number of electricity poles fell down and mobile services were disrupted.

The cyclone has also left a trail of destruction along the coastlines of the two countries, compounding the suffering of many poor and vulnerable communities already hit by coronavirus outbreak and the impact of the lockdown. ‘The impact of Amphan is worse than coronavirus,’ the Chief Minister of West Bengal State Mamata Banerjee said.

When Cyclone Amphan – the most powerful cyclone ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal – churned into India and Bangladesh, it ripped apart houses and snapped power lines, devastating the houses and community facilities along the coastal belt.
 
When Cyclone Amphan – the most powerful cyclone ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal – churned into India and Bangladesh, it ripped apart houses and snapped power lines, devastating the houses and community facilities along the coastal belt.
Waves breached river embankments built to protect low-lying communities, and the floods that followed threatened the lives of everyone who didn’t make it to a shelter in time. Half a million people have lost their homes.
 
Waves breached river embankments built to protect low-lying communities, and the floods that followed threatened the lives of everyone who didn’t make it to a shelter in time. Half a million people have lost their homes.
As changes in the climate warm the waters of the bay, storms in Bangladesh are intensifying. This year, their impacts are hugely complicated by the deadly coronavirus: the need for people to crowd into buildings that are safe from wind and floodwaters robs communities of a trusted tool in the fight against COVID-19 – physical distancing.
 
As changes in the climate warm the waters of the bay, storms in Bangladesh are intensifying. This year, their impacts are hugely complicated by the deadly coronavirus: the need for people to crowd into buildings that are safe from wind and floodwaters robs communities of a trusted tool in the fight against COVID-19 – physical distancing.

 

Oxfam's immediate response

As soon as the cyclone passed by and humanitarian staff were safe to move, Oxfam and its partners in India and Bangladesh set out to determine the needs and provide humanitarian assistance in the hard-hit districts. Together, we are working to:

  • Distribute food and hygiene supplies such as soap to severely affected communities
  • Clean and disinfect the local cyclone shelters, ramp up public health messaging about face masks and social distancing; and prepare hand sanitizer for families arriving at the shelters
  • Prepare water sanitation facilities for communities in the low-lying coastal areas to prevent contaminated water from destroying crops and causing health problems
Survivors of Cyclone Amphan are suffering from an acute shortage of drinking water. Oxfam’s Public Health Engineering Team has been working with Shushilan, our local partner, to provide drinking water to hundreds of villagers in Satkhira through water trucking.
 
Survivors of Cyclone Amphan are suffering from an acute shortage of drinking water. Oxfam’s Public Health Engineering Team has been working with Shushilan, our local partner, to provide drinking water to hundreds of villagers in Satkhira through water trucking. 
Renuka Rani, a participant of our humanitarian relief programme, washing her hands with the soap and water provided by Oxfam and Shushilan at a water distribution point. ‘Without this handwashing facility, it would be difficult for us to stay clean,’ Rani said.
 
Renuka Rani, a participant of our humanitarian relief programme, washing her hands with the soap and water provided by Oxfam and Shushilan at a water distribution point. ‘Without this handwashing facility, it would be difficult for us to stay clean,’ Rani said.
Apart from providing drinking water and hygiene kits, Oxfam staff and partners donned personal protection equipment and set out to distribute emergency rations of dry food in several of the hardest-hit areas.
 
Apart from providing drinking water and hygiene kits, Oxfam staff and partners donned personal protection equipment and set out to distribute emergency rations of dry food in several of the hardest-hit areas.

 

For people living with a disability and mobility difficulties, essential supplies and food will be delivered to their door.
 
For people living with a disability and mobility difficulties, essential supplies and food will be delivered to their door.
Oxfam’s staff and partners reached several hard-to-reach coastal villages with temporary desalination facilities by boat as soon as we could.
 
Oxfam’s staff and partners reached several hard-to-reach coastal villages with temporary desalination facilities by boat as soon as we could.
Desalination facilities were vital for the low-lying villages as water sources were contaminated by the storm surge. Salty water could destroy corps and cause health problems.
 
Desalination facilities were vital for the low-lying villages as water sources were contaminated by the storm surge. Salty water could destroy corps and cause health problems.

 


ACT NOW! Save LivEs!

donate now

   *Oxfam will use the donations for emergency, rehabilitation, or community development projects across the globe.

Grants from HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund for Cyclone-affected Families

Due to the severity of the disaster, Oxfam Hong Kong (OHK) submitted two relief proposals to the HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee (DRF) so that we could offer more survivors in the affected area with support.

On 10 July 2020, OHK received a grant of HK$6.4 million from the DRF to support 9,400 cyclone-affected households (approximately 47,000 people, with five to a household) in West Bengal, India. Each family we reach will receive a household kit, which includes a tarpaulin, ground sheet, bedsheet, mosquito net, solar lantern, and household water filter. They will also receive a hygiene kit, which contains a bucket, mug, water chlorination tablets, soap, laundry detergent, sanitary pads, oral rehydration salts, antiseptic lotion , comb, nail clipper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, face masks, hand sanitizers and safety pins.

On 20 July 2020, OHK received HK$5.147 million in funding from the DRF to support 12,450 cyclone-affected households (approximately 62,250 people, with five people to a household) in Barishal Division in Bangladesh. Each family we reach will receive one food kit and one hygiene kit, and 3,000 families whose houses were completely damaged will receive shelter kits as well. Each food kit contains 20 kg of rice, 2.5 litres of cooking oil, 2.25 kg of lentils, 1 kg of chira (flattened rice), 0.5 kg of salt, 0.5 kg of sugar and 4.5 kg of dal (bean). Hygiene kits also contain face masks, soap, a bucket, laundry detergent, reusable sanitary pads and a mug. And those who receive shelter kits will find a tarpaulin, rope, bamboo, nails and claw hammer inside.

The DRF requires that this fund be used for this specific disaster in accordance with the funding application submitted by Oxfam Hong Kong and approved by the DRF. The project will last for 12 weeks. After the completion of our relief work, we will carry out an evaluation, and submit an evaluation and financial report (including an external audit report) to the DRF.