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Church
people are mobilizing relief supplies after a powerful
cyclone ripped through India and Bangladesh leaving
hundreds dead and millions marooned.
Cyclone Aila on Monday hit the Indian state of West
Bengal and the coast of Bangladesh leaving 200 dead and
2.6 million people stranded, officials said.
Thousands of thatched houses, more than 500 km
embankments, cattle heads, fishery farms were washed
away and hundreds of thousands of islanders marooned by
10-13 feet (3-4 meters) high surge, they added.
The toll in Bangladesh rose to more than 130 following
the recovery of dozens of bodies on Tuesday. In West
Bengal reports placed the toll at 64 besides 61,000
houses destroyed and 1.32 lakh partially damaged.
Church groups who joined NGOs and local volunteers in
the rescue and relief operation said the heavy rains
have left "thousands without sufficient food and
shelter" triggering a fullscale response.
"Hundreds of rural houses have been destroyed or
damaged; families have lost their essential household
items; crops have been destroyed. The displaced
population have taken shelter in school buildings and
other safer locations," said Action by Churches Together
(ACT) International, a global alliance of churches and
related agencies.
The global ecumenical organisation said its partners
Church Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and Lutheran
World Service India (LWSI) have begun mobilizing funds
for the delivery of relief.
George Varghese, Program Manager of LWSI told Christian
Today: "A rapid assessment team has already been
dispatched to the affected areas where relief workers
have started delivering food, fresh water and shelters.”
"300 HDPE Plastic sheets was yesterday distributed for
temporary shelter and also measures for hygienic and
sanitation conditions have been initiated," George
added.
"We intend to immediately reach out to 3000 other
families affected in India,” he shared.
The association has appealed for fresh funds to meet the
most urgent needs including ready to eat food and dry
food rations, temporary shelter and water purification
tablets.
The cyclone with a speed of 70-90 km per hour is said to
have brought the biggest natural calamity in Bangla-desh
since two years. In November 2007, thousands were dead
or missing after cyclone Sidr battered the country's
coastal areas.
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