On Cyclone Aila

from Media Alerts sent by those concerned.... (http://www.aidindia.org)

On May 25th, the cyclone Aila hit the coasts of West Bengal. It left 300 people dead and millions displaced. There is an acute shortage of food and drinking water, and an outbreak of gastro-intestinal diseases like diarrhea and dysentery. Many people are living in temporary straw sheds on the road because they cannot get space for their cattle at the rescue centers. There is an urgent and immediate need for relief work.

However , it is unfortunate to see the media’s apathy towards the victims of the cyclone in the Sunderban area. In spite of millions losing all that they owned, their plight has largely been kept away from the public eye. This has caused a major tendency among the people to undermine the various fundraising efforts in various parts of the world. The media needs to understand their responsibility to play a constructive role in bringing to light the tremendous scope of a disaster. It also needs to censure the abject politics that is being played out by the various political organisations. This is to appeal to the media to realise this and sensitise people about the relief and rehabilitation efforts that are needed in the area.

We sincerely urge you to take this matter seriously – the media is a valuable tool with the power to make a considerable difference. Please contact us if you are interested in pursuing this story. You can visit the following site for more information on the ongoing disaster: http://www.aidindia.org