PR25/2009
June 08, 2009 Vienna, Austria - The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has approved a grant of US$600,000 to provide essential relief supplies and help finance emergency operations for victims of Cyclone Aila, which left hundreds dead and thousands of communities homeless in India and Bangladesh. The funds will be channeled through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
On May 25, the cyclonic storm Aila struck inland Bangladesh, and then intensified and crossed the West Bengal-Khulna coast. The storm then hit coastal Bengal of India and Bangladesh's south-western coast. Resultant tidal waves rolled into many of the coastal villages, destroying infrastructure as well as flood control embankments and dykes. In addition, a large number of domestic animals and crops were lost.
Aila has been described as one of the worst storms to hit the West Bengali capital and India's third largest city Kolkata in over 20 years. Over 5.1 million people have been affected in 16 districts of West Bengal, and over 500,000 houses either damaged or destroyed. The storm is especially devastating for farmers who were preparing to harvest rice and other vital food crops.
In Bangladesh, the storm left up to 100 dead and thousands marooned. In addition, heavy rains coupled with gales flattened huge tracts of standing crops and washed away numerous fisheries. The rains also caused extensive damage to embankments in the coastal districts. According to the Bangladesh Ministry for Food and Disaster Management, more than 800 people have been injured and over 85,000 domestic animals killed.
UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), along with the respective governments and a host of other aid agencies, are working towards improving the water, sanitation and hygiene situation. The World Food Programme and UNICEF have delivered some 500 tons of high-energy biscuits and water purification tablets. Urgently-needed items include blankets, cloths, plastic sheets, jerry cans, hygiene parcels, oral rehydration salts, water purification tablets and tents.
OFID's grant will be divided equally between the two countries and will help procure these supplies and support the emergency operations being undertaken by the IFRC.
