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Epidemic looms large in cyclone affected areas: ActionAid
29 May 2009 07:02:00 GMT
 Source: ActionAid International- India
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Stagnant storm water in a village in South 24 Parganas District
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Stagnant storm water in a village in South 24 Parganas District
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Background

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ActionAid has called for a swift response to avert an epidemic outbreak in areas affected by Cyclone Aila that wreaked havoc along India's eastern coast and Bangladesh on Monday night.

"The cyclone survivors are now staring at the prospect of an epidemic outbreak," says P.V. Unnikrishnan, who leads ActionAid International's emergencies work in Asia.

"The stagnant water has started stinking due to lot of organic matter and rotting cattle strewn around. This looks bleak," says Swapan from ActionAid supported organisation Digambarpur Angikar.

This poses a major public health risk for survivors in cyclone affected areas. Unattended floodwater sometimes claims more lives than the actual disaster itself.

"In post cyclone and flood periods, untreated water becomes breading ground for vectors-borne epidemic outbreaks," adds Unnikrishnan.

Need for a quick response

According to a quick situation assessment by ActionAid, and its partner working in the South 24 Parganas that has been worst hit, has revealed that drinking water and sanitation are emerging as immediate concerns.

"Tube wells in the waterlogged villages are unusable. Even in landlocked areas only a handful are in use. We also found that ponds have been contaminated with salt water," says Ashok Nayak from ActionAid.

"Most of the areas are still submerged. Mud houses in the worst affected areas have been destroyed," says Swapan from ActionAid supported group working in the South 24 Parganas that has been worst hit.

Submerged and cramped

Two days after Cyclone Aila wreaked havoc along India's eastern coast, survivors are still waiting for drinking water, food and basic amenities in crowded storm shelters and schools

"Storm shelters are cramped with survivors. Some of the women there said they are being forced to share the space with men," adds Nayak, following a visit to Sitarampur high school in G-plot area that is located on a river island.

"Over 1,500 people are huddled in the small rooms of the school," adds Swapan.

ActionAid has been delivering relief material to survivors in the South 24 Parganas that bore the brunt of the cyclone. Cooked food, medicine and drinking water is being provided using country-made and motorised boats.

Aid workers on the ground feel the destruction of livestock and livelihood options would need a long-term engagement in these villages. According to local reports, over 200,000 people have been left homeless and 22,484 houses have been damaged in the cyclone and many fishermen have gone missing in the sea.

ENDS


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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