Emergency Response to Cyclonic storm “Bulbul” Affected families in the Sundarban Islands

On 9^th November 2019, the cyclonic storm “Bulbul” hit in Sundarban Islands, the coastal part of Bay of Bengal, West Bengal around 130 nautical miles south of Kolkata. Bulbul cyclone accompanied with rain caused big disaster.

“Hiss of Bulbul at 135kmph” was the headline of the Telegraph daily in Kolkata. The cyclone was born in the Bay of Bengal and died in Bangladesh. It passed through the Sundarban Islands, the coastal part of West Bengal and causing destruction on the way.

The cyclone along with rain destroyed most of the mud houses, uprooted trees, paddy fields, vegetables, livestock, fishes, communication system and the livelihood. The cyclone has ruined houses of thousands of families in Sundarban Islands in district of 24 Parganas, West Bengal.

PUS continued engaging herself for the emergency needs of the affected people. PUS Baruipur formed and strengthens assessment Teams among staffs, animators and local volunteers with special attention to the instruction of donors and have carried out the Bulbul relief work. All the information has been collected and taken immediate action for tabulating those data according to the Blocks, Gram Panchayets and villages along with field observation.

Linkage and networking is important strategies adopted for Early Recovery, Emergency support and Disaster Risk Reduction. PUS assessment Teams made linkage with the local PRI functionaries, health and other Government department officer for primary and secondary data collection, observation and feedback. Specific activities like meeting with PRI members, meeting with Government officials conducted as key steps for establishing a good linkage that help to identify and reach to the most Bulbul affected families.

The staffs, task forces and PRI members jointly made Rapid need Assessment as humanitarians support to cope up the disaster situation, identify for selection of most cyclone victimized  families and mechanism of relief material distribution.

PUS Rapid action teams selected the above mentioned areas in District of South 24 Parganas Block in South 24 Parganas  as most Bulbul affected family to for relief operation on the humanitarian ground respective of caste, creed and religion. PUS Distributed Tarpaulin, Blanket, Mosquito Net, Rope and Bleaching Powder Rice and Pulses (Dal) to cater the needs of the Bulbul affected Families with love and Solidarity.