Super Cyclone Amphan Response & Rehabilitation
Emergency relief and livelihood rehabilitation for cyclone-affected families in coastal South 24 Parganas.
About This Project
Super Cyclone Amphan struck West Bengal on 20 May 2020 with wind speeds exceeding 185 km/h — the strongest storm to hit the Bay of Bengal in over two decades. South 24 Parganas was among the worst-affected districts, with widespread destruction of homes, crops, and livelihoods in the Sundarbans and coastal belt.
BITAN was on the ground within 72 hours of landfall, conducting rapid needs assessments across 12 severely affected gram panchayats using structured household survey tools. Assessment findings were shared with the District Collector's office and used to guide relief targeting by both government and NGO responders — avoiding duplication and reaching the most vulnerable first.
Relief distribution — covering dry rations, tarpaulins, household kits, and hygiene supplies — reached over 2,500 families across 4 blocks over a 3-week period. In the recovery phase, BITAN focused on livelihood rehabilitation: distributing paddy seeds, fishing nets, and poultry for agricultural households, and providing capital support for home-based artisans who lost tools and stock.
What We Did
- 72-hour rapid needs assessment — 12 gram panchayats, structured household surveys
- Data sharing with District Collector and relief co-ordination group
- Dry ration distribution — 2,500 families over 3 weeks across 4 blocks
- Non-food item distribution — tarpaulins, household kits, hygiene supplies
- Agricultural livelihood rehabilitation — paddy seeds, vegetable inputs, fishing nets
- Poultry and livestock support for 180 households
- Psychosocial support sessions for severely affected families (in partnership with district hospital)
From the Field
Challenges & How We Addressed Them
Reaching the most remote islands of the Sundarbans — where boat access was the only option and many vessels had been destroyed — required BITAN to co-ordinate with the West Bengal Fisheries Department and local panchayat members who had functioning boats. A relay distribution model was established where mainland partner organisations loaded materials and Sundarbans-based community volunteers ferried supplies to island households.
“Everything was gone — our roof, our crops, our fishing nets. BITAN came within three days. They listened, they counted properly what we lost, and they came back with help. They gave us seeds so we could plant again. That is what we needed — not just food for a week.”
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