Disaster Relief

Sundarban, a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest mangrove forest, has been hit hard by multiple natural disasters ,  cyclones Aila, Bulbul, Phani Amphan, and the most recent Yaas. These catastrophes have caused widespread destruction to homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods, leaving the people of the Sundarbans devastated and struggling to recover.

But in the face of this heart-wrenching devastation, we at Team-Aranyaj have stood up and answered the call to action. With the unwavering support of our passionate members, tireless volunteers, and generous donors, we have taken on the daunting task of responding to the Yaas Cyclone in the Sundarbans region.

Despite the harsh and difficult conditions of the second wave of COVID-19, we refused to let anything stop us. We hired a boat and embarked on a mission to reach the most remote and affected islands such as Kumirmari, Chhotomollakhali, Boromollakhali, Amtoli, Amlamethi, Bijaynagar, Dayapur, Kochukhali, Lahiripur, Luxbagan, Radhanagar, Taranagar, Pakhiralay, etc. The damage and devastation we witnessed there were utterly heartbreaking, but it only fueled our determination to help.

We distributed 80 thousand plates of cooked food through our 5 community kitchens, distributed 2500 ration kits, 6000 packets of sanitary napkins, and 5500 liters of drinking water to those in need, while also conducted critical health camps to ensure that people had access to life-saving emergency medicines, ORS, and sanitary pads.

It’s clear that disaster risk reduction and management strategies, along with sustainable development practices, are essential to reducing vulnerability and building resilience in the face of climate change. The Sundarbans and its unique ecosystem, which is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna, including the magnificent Bengal tiger, must be protected at all costs. We will continue to work tirelessly to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters and promote sustainable development practices that safeguard the Sundarbans’ precious ecosystem. This is a critical mission, and we are proud to be educating islanders and future generations on the importance of taking care of this vital natural wonder.

We also went above and beyond by repairing and building 380 mud houses within a month of the cyclone, ensuring that people had a safe place to call home once again.