By Sudarshan Chhotoray
The rapid evacuation of more than one million people saved countless lives when Cyclone Fani pummelled India’s eastern coastline in early May. But a relatively low death toll hides extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods – underscoring the need to build more resilient homes and communities that can withstand future storms.
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Half a million homes were damaged in Odisha and scenes of destruction are still evident today in Puri district, where communities depend on fisheries and farms. Most homes here are made from mud and brick with bamboo and straw roofs – not sturdy enough to withstand a storm. Downed electricity lines and water supplies haven’t been fully restored, leaving thousands of households without power or drinking water for weeks. Many are still living off short-term humanitarian relief.
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State authorities hope a better understanding of Cyclone Fani’s impacts today will help prepare for the next inevitable disaster. The government, UN agencies, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank are tallying both the physical damages caused by Fani as well as harder-to-measure socio-economic losses, such as the impacts on livelihoods, food security, and health.
In India, governments often concentrate on the physical damage. But adding up the extent of other losses will help authorities better plan for recovery and build more resilient communities, said Monika Nielsen, who heads UNICEF’s field office in Odisha.
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