Though the cyclone “Yaas” didn’t have the same magnitude as cyclone “Amphan”, but it had wreaked large scale damages to human habitats and farmlands. The storm surge triggered by the cyclone, which coincided with the perigee spring tide, caused an extraordinary rise in the water level. Thousands of people had lost their home, their livelihood and were in dire need of food, safe drinking water and shelter. IHA Foundation under the leadership of its Chairman Satnam Singh Ahluwalia immediately formed small volunteer groups to combat the situation. At the very initial stage IHA Foundation provided them with dry food and safe potable water. The river embankment rebuilding works had already been started.

The first lot of volunteers were dispatched to to Amlamethi, Marhurakhanda and Satya Narayanpur, Gosaba block Sunderbans, with relief material like tarpaulin, ropes, clothes, dry ration like muri, gur, chanachur, chira etc along with Ration kits consisting of rice, dal, oil, atta, tea, milk powder etc. Thereafter within a few days as information was received that about 300 families have been severely been affected by Cyclone YAAS, Satnam Singh Ahluwalia led his team of volunteers to village Tangrar Char,Kulpi in South 24 Parganas to provide immediate relief to the people with a mission to bring their lives back to normal. A truckload of Ration kits consisting of Rice, Dal, Oil, Atta, Tea, Milk Powder, Baby Food, Potatoes, Onion, Muri, Chira, Gur, Biscuit, Candle along with Saree, Lungi and clothes were distributed to 300 families for initial support.

Agriculture rebuild and food safety work was immediately necessary as soon as the water went out from agricultural fields and receeded back. Similarly for the safety of the villages’ small, medium and large scale river bank rebuild work was very important. Last year Cyclone Amphan devastated people’s home with winds of 133 km (83 miles) per hour, bringing devastation. But just as people were just starting rebuilding their homes during the extraordinary situation of Covid 19, managing their resources, savings and compensation received from the Government. Cyclone Yaas made landfall last month, uprooting them again.

“People preferred to go back to their homes instead of staying in the Safe Houses and Shelters, even if it meant erecting two bamboo poles, covering them with plastic and sleeping there in the wreckage. It helps them keep an eye on their livestock and few belongings that is left. But many have been forced to stay on in relief centers waiting for resources to rebuild back their lives. Still Boats are perched over houses and people are still feeling helpless as to what can be done with dwindling limited resources, with no sources of income after their agricultural land has been washed away and with no avenues to work with the second wave of Covid19.”, said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman IHA Foundation.

Most people rebuild in stages when they get government compensation installments or get financial support from their family and NGO’s and many never manage to complete their construction. The houses are often unfinished structures that topple down when the next cyclone comes.

IHA Foundation volunteers helped the people of Dakshin Purushottampur in rebuilding back their homes which were completely destroyed, the wreckage was firstly removed from the places and a strong foundation was established after assessment of the soil and structure of the place, so that the Homes rebuild are able to face the brunt of the next tide or calamity. The foundation was strengthened to the extent possible as per the surroundings and requirement of the area. Next pukka walls were built so that the homes stand the test of time, and the people don’t have to worry about them falling with winds flowing, only those materials were used which are resistant to salt air, and decay resistant.

IHA Foundation has been deeply involved with the community, therefore apart from time to time providing them with ration and essential items support, they have introduced the idea of community kitchen where at times of a calamity or crisis, the people can come together pool their resources and ration and cook together thereby helping each other to survive through with some help from us if necessary. Apart from that we have also developed the young people of the community to teach the children, through the tutor training programme, where these young people are trained and provide knowledge resources in order to enable them to develop their concepts and impart basic knowledge to the children of their community. The Elderly people of the village are also involved in our project by providing them with vocational and skill training, like sewing for the ladies, candle making, basket making, pots for the men etc.

IHA Foundation believes in not providing short term assistance in the communities it operated but works with a mission of providing wholesome development of the rural people and the community in general.

If there is one thing this lockdown has taught many of us, it's how precious the concept of having a roof over our heads is. Roti, Kapda aur Makaan the famous fim title, this concept is a privilege people affected by this calamity can longer afford. Covid-19 put the breadwinners of these families out of a job, and the devastating cyclone YAAS destroyed their homes and their agricultural fields and Livestock. Now more than ever, it's important to recognize we are all part of the same community, and that no family member should have to go to sleep hungry, without a safe space to sleep in and with some clothes to keep him warm.