As of 10 June 2009, the death toll from Cyclone Aila according to the Bangladesh government was 190 and over 3.9 million people have been affected. Across the border in India "over 5.1 million people have been affected in 16 districts of West Bengal, and over 500,000 houses either damaged or destroyed”, according to the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPIC).

The disaster WASH cluster/working group in Bangladesh were carrying out an assessment for further assistance regarding water and sanitation. A rough estimate indicates about 500,000 to 750,000 people are seeking immediate water supply and sanitation supports. Water purification is carried out by agencies such as CARE/Oxfam GB, DPHE, Save the Children USA, WVI. Bangladesh Army is also supporting water trucking to the locations that are difficult to reach by other agencies. Beside providing pure water many WASH working group agencies are working on restoration of potable water sources by dewatering/disinfecting ponds and tube-wells.

On 9 June 2009, India reported it had deployed eight teams consisting of 247 personnel of its National Disaster Response Force in affected areas in West Bengal. This relief and rescue operation also included 69 boats, 30 life bouys and 83 life jackets. From the Army 16 medical teams were deployed with relief materials in Basanti, 24 Parganas South and Hingai Gunj, 24 Paraganas North.

Related web sites:

• ReliefWeb - Tropical Cyclone Aila - water and sanitation
• Humanitarian Reform - Global WASH Cluster

Source: Govt of Bangladesh / Reliefweb, 11 Jun 2009 ; OPIC, 08 Jun 2009

Tags: emergencies, south asia, water treatment, water-related diseases