interviews

CARE Staff Member Reflects on Challenges of Rebuilding Cyclone-Stricken Orissa

Interview with S.D. Pattnaik, Commodity Manager for CARE India in Orissa by Amy Lynn O'Toole, Associate Writer

Nearly eight months after a supercyclone unleashed widespread flooding and destruction along the coast of Orissa, India, survivors still are struggling to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, as well as to recover from the loss of nearly 10,000 of their relatives, friends and neighbors.

S.D. Pattnaik, who has worked for CARE India for 13 years, offers his reflections on the lingering tragedy and the challenges now confronting the cyclone-affected villages. While significant strides have been made, the scope of need is still great. Bringing a minimal level of peace of mind and security to the 30 million people living in Orissa requires renewed commitment and additional funding from the government and donors.

• What progress has been made with the rebuilding and rehabilitation of Orissa since the supercyclone struck last October?

  Nearly 15 million people were affected by the cyclone, many lost everything. Farmers lost their livestock and the use of their land due to salination from the 20-foot high tidal waves. Fishermen lost their boats and equipment. Families lost their homes and many children lost their parents. Needless to say, it's taken a long time for people to begin recovering from the devastation. CARE was the first humanitarian organization to reach affected populations with relief supplies, providing more than 10,000 tons of food to stranded families. Now we're helping families plant crops and resume their fishing activities. We're also working with the government to find money to help people build stronger homes and schools and concrete cyclone shelters. But I'd say more than half of Orissa's population of 30 million is still struggling to recover.

  S.D. Pattnaik traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to participate in "CARE Packages from Congress, " an event during which members of Congress assembled packages of school supplies for children in Orissa, India. For more information on this event, click here.

  
  
• What work remains to be done?

  The major needs right now are helping people regain their livelihoods, rebuild their homes and build cyclone-proof concrete shelters.

  As I said, the primary sources of food and income are farming and fishing but the livestock are gone, the soil can't support crops and since people don't have anything to sell, they don't have any money. The land will barely support growth of the staple crop of rice, let alone cash crops such as coconuts. Without support and equipment, people can't begin producing food or generating an income for themselves.

  Another critical need is shelter -- in the future, each home should have at least one concrete room so that this scale of destruction isn't repeated during future cyclones. Though people were warned before the cyclone hit in October, they didn't want to leave their homes and belongings to seek safety further inland. People also underestimated the cyclone's severity and now they're suffering -- many fishermen died out at sea when the cyclone hit that day, so now when fishermen see the wind picking up a bit, they become scared and come back inshore.

  Yet another need is for large community cyclone shelters which could double as schools or health centers. These concrete buildings could be stocked with food so that during emergencies, they could serve as a place of refuge for threatened families. Tying into this is the need to improve the mechanisms for alerting people to severe weather or other potential disasters. People should receive training on early warning systems and understand how to spread information and coordinate disaster plans.

• How has the current drought in India affected recovery efforts in Orissa?

  Droughts are fairly common in the western part of Orissa, but only a small area is affected right now. CARE is working with the government to develop a watershed management system to cope with the periodic scarcity of water. Given its technical expertise, CARE has been asked to lead the effort to improve the use of water in the region so people won't continue to lose their crops and livestock. Through a broad collaboration, we're hoping to soon improve access to water for everyone.

• What is CARE doing to help the people of Orissa get back on their feet?

  CARE is working to help fishermen replace or rebuild boats and equipment lost during the cyclone last October.

  
  CARE stepped in immediately after the cyclone struck to provide more than 10,000 tons of food and thousands of blankets, plastic sheets, clothes, candles and medical kits to affected families. To encourage people to help rebuild their communities, CARE also offered a food and work program, whereby those who were able helped clear debris from ponds and roads and began rebuilding - but those who were too sick or weak to work were still given food. We're continuing to work in 11 of the most severely affected districts.

  CARE's ongoing recovery efforts include the distribution of vegetable seeds and agricultural tools to some 50,000 families and the repair or purchase of fishing boats and nets for more than 1,500 families. We've been focusing on helping restore people's livelihoods at the request of the government, which has been working to ensure that people have adequate shelter and food. Both CARE and the government would like to support the construction of individual concrete rooms and multi-purpose cyclone shelters.

  Right now that isn't happening because of lack of funding. It's tragic to see these urgent projects lay idle because of a shortage of resources. CARE already has identified some 70 locations for cyclone shelters but hasn't been able to secure the funding necessary to move forward. The same applies to the early warning system - CARE, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Open University, has piloted a training program in one district that includes 50 villages, but we need additional funding before we can extend it to a target of 1,000 villages along the coastline.

  The extent of damage is still being uncovered -- a newly emerging challenge is care for all of the small children who were left orphaned by the deadly cyclone. The government has established centers -- essentially orphanages -- to house these children. CARE has submitted a proposal to help support these little ones who have no parents or other family to care for them. But again, the funding must be secured before we can step in.

  Without sufficient funding, too many needs remain unmet. And the tragedy and devastation becomes perpetual. Given the right resources, CARE can help families build more secure homes, reclaim their sources of livelihood, prepare better for future cyclones and support those who lost everything last October. CARE's been working in India for 50 years now and will stay until the cycle of poverty and tragedy is broken and people are able to make lasting improvements in their lives.