Of course I would be accompanied by my Indian colleagues, but still, this would be my own challenge, with friends and family so far away. I was a little surprised – and secretly also proud – about my own courage.
I hadn’t really thought about what it would be like when I applied for the Emergency Response Team almost two years ago. Was I able to meet the expectations from the Moving The World team? Would I really be able to achieve something that was worth all the expense?
The Hindu brotherhood of monks Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a Hindu, well experienced NGO in relief operations around the globe, was able to respond quickly to this urgent request. Within 24 hours, an impressive 1,500 volunteers set up 10 kitchens, serving cooked food to 30,000 people for a period of 20 days. The Ramakrishna Mission provided shelter for the thousands of people left with nothing more than the clothes on their bodies. The smaller Kultali Milon Tirtha Society concentrated on food, safe drinking water and medical aid.
2 days earlier I had arrived at the West Bengal capital of Calcutta in North Eastern India. My task was to coordinate the communication between the local TNT team and the Netherlands based communications department.
Jay Parkhe, in charge of TNT’s CSR activities in this emerging economy, did not have to think twice. In previous years TNT had already helped with two other natural disasters in their country: the 2004 Tsunami and the Bihar floods in 2008.
A team of 12 West Bengal TNT employees was arranged, covering all aspects of the relief activities. This month logistical help will be given to the World Food Programme by delivering 150 tons of high-energy biscuits to the more than 40 small islands affected by the tropical storm.
Palashi Mondal, a 20 year old woman from the village of Harbhangi, is glad that after several hours waiting she has finally reached the front of the queue. Together with members of TNT’s Calcutta management team I am visiting a medical relief camp, which has been set up for the afternoon in a village community hall.
