Over the last few weeks we have been raising money for our Sustainable Livelihoods and Land Rights project with partners Gopinath Yubak Sangh and Regional Centre for Development Cooperation. This important project aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of fisher folk communities in and around Chilika Lake in Odisha which will improve access to their land and secure legal rights to the land, promote sustainable land management and promote the adoption of alternative livelihood practices. Little did we know that only a few weeks later, we would be asking you for your help again as the women, men and children around Chilika Lake now urgently need our support and solidarity.

Last weekend over 10 million people in Odisha saw their lives uprooted after Cyclone Fani made landfall with a wind speed of 200 km/hr gusting up to 240 km/hr. The centre of Cyclone Fani hit land between Puri and Chilika Lake, which is where our project is located. The area was severely affected.

''Kailash from Regional Centre for Development Cooperation and Bishnu and Umma from Gopinath Yubak Sangh went round some of the affected areas between Puri and Chilika Lake as best they could on Monday 6th May. They shared that: Although the pre-cyclone intervention of the government was very effective, the way the cyclone was tracked, early warnings given and the mass evacuation of more than 1 million are praiseworthy, the post-cyclone response has been poor as the devastation is very great. Those who are in cyclone shelters are barely managing one meal per day. But those who are in the schools are struggling without food and water. People are in need of polythene, food, water and baby food which the government has so far failed to deliver. Thus, it depends on the NGO sector as to how much they can mobilize and support the people till the government is able to gear up and help.

When disasters strike areas like Chilika, its heart breaking to see so many already struggling people lose their homes, their belongings and their livelihoods. But on the other hand, it is also amazing to see how quick partners respond.

Gopinath Yubak Sangh have been working in the affected area for the last 25 years and Action Village India has been supporting them for over 10 years. Together with Regional Centre for Development Cooperation (RCDC), our other partner in Orissa, they are already carrying out relief activities with the involvement of community institutions like women Self Help Groups, village committees and Panchayat Raj Institutions. They will involve all the village level institutions during the distribution of relief materials.

Who they work with and how will, they hope, contribute to rebuilding peoples livelihoods and so resilience. Cyclones such as Fani, affect the poor and vulnerable most. RCDC and Gopinath Yubak Sangh are rooted in the affected communities and already working directly with the most vulnerable. They are also committed to ensuring that relief and rehabilitation strengthens livelihoods and resilience. This is essential for both building more just, equal and inclusive communities as well as their ability to be less effected by future cyclones.

Please could you support the women, men and children around Chilika Lake in rebuilding their lives, livelihoods and communities. Thank you.