Attachments
Highlights
- Cyclone Remal made landfall in the south of West Bengal state, between Sagar Island, India, and Khepupara in Bangladesh.
- The early warnings provided by the India Meteorological Department (Government of India) led to timely action by local government and communities, National Disaster Response Force, Civil Society Organisations, and other stakeholders. The cyclone has passed over West Bengal and access to the affected area is possible since mid 28.05.2024.
- Six lives have been lost in West Bengal due to the cyclone, with significant damage to infrastructure and property in coastal areas.
- Over 200,000 people have been evacuated to relief camps and cyclone shelters by the state government.
- A Joint Rapid Needs Assessment has begun across 34 Gram panchayats with 57 volunteers. The aim is to cover nearly 100 affected villages in the two most affected districts of South and North 24 Parganas.
- More than 1,700 electricity poles have been damaged, along with numerous uprooted trees.
- Around 2,500 houses have been destroyed, while 27,000 others (housing over 147,500 people approx. 33% of children from the most vulnerable and unreached communities) have suffered partial damage. Damaged households are in urgent need of drinking water and sanitation facilities.
- Major roads in Kolkata, the State capital, remain waterlogged.
- Shortages of baby friendly food is reported in over 150 shelters.
- According to reports from non-government organizations, more than 1969-acre crop has been destroyed by storm. This has impacted the livelihood and we await more data from the government survey.
- Four IAG meetings have been jointly convened by UNICEF and the IAG partners have commenced a Joint Rapid Need Assessment within 24 hours of the cyclone.
Response
-
Based on the warning received from Indian Meteorological Department, UNICEF supported Inter Agency coordination Group (IAG) continue to convene daily coordination meetings of 30 plus agencies from Government, civil society and private sector. The district control rooms, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), district and state level Ham communication clubs, INCOS, INGOs and CSOs have been a part of these meetings.
-
Following the Emergency Management Team (EMT) of the UNICEF KFO, all sector leads continue to coordinate with the Government and CSO partners on ground to plan the response from UNICEF.
✓ WASH: Based on the initial assessment done by the IAG member CSOs it is seen that there is an urgent need of WASH supplies to the houses which are fully and partially damaged. 27,000 households which are homes to approximately 1,35,000 people and about 75,000 children are partially damaged as reported by IAG and local administration. Approximately 20 percent of the partially damaged houses are not liveable as the damage is to the pillars/beams and they may collapse. Moreover, 2500 households that are homes over 6000 children and approx. 12,500 people are damaged and in need across 25 severely impacted blocks. The houses which are not liveable and those which are fully damaged will need at least three to four months to be rebuilt. Drinking water and sanitation services will be compromised for a long period of time for these children who may be round 12,000. Their health, nutrition and safety may be compromised if critical help is not provided soon. It is often seen that doners will be available in the first 3 to 6 days of the impact however in the long term these children and families go unnoticed. Based on the local context, UNICEF has managed to identify 7 blocks where reach of NGOs is limited, and local administration would need some support to take care of these families. UNICEF plans to support 1061 (approx. 5350 people and approx. 3183 children) households across 7 blocks viz. Canning-1, Basanti, Baruipur-1, Joynagar-1, Mathurapur-2, Gosaba, Kakdwip. These are those households which are not reached by any of the other responding agencies so far. The support will be in the form of supply of WASH and hygiene emergency kits to the most affected households, community volunteers-based activities for village sanitation drives, water source disinfection drives, community awareness on WASH practices during disasters and orientation of PRI members of worst affected GPs on disaster preparedness and response planning. These kits will support the families for 30 to 40 days, which is a good time for the families to build back their livelihood and earn their living.
✓ Health: Based on the previously conducted training and planning exercise carried out after the Remal warning, 74 shelters received ORS and Zinc and Chlorine tablets. On an average 40-50 packets distributed to 40-50 families, per shelter received the same. 48 cases of snake bites have been reported in the most affected districts of South 24 parganas. 10 government hospitals did not have electricity supply which is being restored; 8 hospitals had water logging, which is impacting services to women and children.
✓ Child Protection: The sector lead is coordinating with the government and partners on the ground to ensure immediate assistance to children if they are separated from their families or exposed to new vulnerabilities. So far, no concern is reported. However, based on preliminary damage assessment, vulnerable situations may arise to those who lived in houses with tin/thatched roof or mud houses. CSO partners and government are keeping a close watch on the situation.
✓ Education: Schools are closed for summer vacation. Based on UNICEF’s advice the district education officers, and district inspectors have been directed to carry out a damage assessment of the schools. The department has opened the schools for use as shelters wherever required. Some schools are damaged; even though the schools are closed, they are supposed to open in the next 15 days, if the school buildings are not repaired in time, there may be a learning loss to children. UNICEF along with the State government is monitoring the situation closely and more details will be shared soon.
✓ Nutrition: UNICEF is coordinating with the Government for preventive actions and based on their request UNICEF has provided a list of sectoral Do’s and Don’ts and was communicated to the department to the local Anganwadi workers vide a Video conference. As per media reports 5 anganwadi (communities centres which cater to nutrition and health of children under 6) buildings are damaged. The government plans to rebuilt it soon and temporary facilities are being identified. Based on the communication from the department of women and child development, the above advisory was being implemented in the blocks which had warning for the cyclone.
✓ SBC and CAP: A communication plan was put in place by UNICEF. Along with this, resource material for Child Friendly Spaces has been identified and shared with IAG partners for use if required. UNICEF has given a guideline to JRNA volunteers for capturing photographs and sharing it with government and UNICEF. WASH, Health (service provisions including for snake bites) messaging through miking were previously made by UNICEF and now have been circulated to IAG and local government for use in the areas after impact. UNICEF has issued a guideline to the IAG members based on which writing case studies from ground zero will shortly commence