India (MNN) ― Cyclone Aila (eye-la) has displaced millions of people in India and Bangladesh. The storm pounded the Bay of Bengal earlier this week and did its worst damage in the flooding and mudslides that followed the onslaught.
Gospel For Asia President KP Yohannan says their West Bengal headquarters has become a makeshift shelter for cyclone Aila victims.
"At least 13 islands have been devastated by the cyclone," a GFA correspondent wrote, describing the scene. "Each island is filled with salt water, and people find it difficult to find fresh water to drink.
Yohannan added, "Some 2,000 mud and thatched homes were completely washed away, and some 40,000 people stranded. We have 32 churches on those islands, so a lot of them are damaged."
He's concerned about a second wave of disaster is expected to take its toll through starvation and disease. "The help is getting there very slowly. People are stranded, and dozens of bridges were completely washed away; roads are gone."
The country of Bangladesh and its neighbor, the state of West Bengal, India, were the hardest hit. Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest nations with 156 million residents. West Bengal is home to more than 81 million people, including an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
In one area, every child who attends a GFA Bridge of Hope center is now homeless because of the storm. The parents, most of whom make their living through subsistence farming and other agricultural pursuits, are at a loss.
"Children are crying without proper food, and parents have lost hope. They look at the sky and weep. We can give no answer when they ask us with tears, ‘Where will we go now? We have no home, no cattle, no fields . . .'" the correspondent wrote.
"It is our God-given opportunity to respond to this suffering and demonstrate Christ's love," Yohannan declared. Nearly 400 families who attend churches led by GFA-supported missionaries lost their homes in the storm.
He says, "We have church members and missionaries working non-stop bringing food, drinking water, blankets and cooking vessels, kerosene stoves, clothes and shelter--whatever they can, and ministering to people at this time."
However, Calcutta fared little better, notes Yohannan. "This is one of the worst cyclones to hit Calcutta," he explained. "The entire city is paralyzed because of fallen trees and traffic jams that have followed. The army has been called out to help."
The situation feels especially urgent because the effected region was barely recovered from the wrath of Cyclone Sidr two years ago. Entire villages were flooded with saline water, and both boats and homes have been destroyed.
Government authorities are calling the situation "desperate" and fear that salt water brought in by storm surges after the cyclone will contaminate the fresh water that is needed for farming. Farmers in the area have lost much of their rice crop, which was at the brink of harvest.
Pray for the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy. Pray too, for the people who are still stranded throughout the region. Finally, ask God to guard the pastors and missionaries so they will be able to access those regions, bring relief, and share God's love with the hurting. The team also needs funds for the supplies. If you can help GFA, click here.
