Andrew Biraj

Photographer
      
Cyclone Aila Aftermath; Bangladesh
Location: Washington DC, USA
Nationality: Bangladeshi
Biography: Andrew Biraj is a photojournalist currently based in Washington DC. Biraj has worked for the international news agencies Reuters, Sipa Press USA and Getty Images. He holds an advanced diploma in photography from Pathshala, the South Asian... MORE
Public Story
Cyclone Aila Aftermath; Bangladesh
Copyright Andrew Biraj 2024
Updated Feb 2015
Topics Agriculture, Children, Community, Documentary, Dying/Death, Editorial, Environment, Environmental, Forest, Health/Healing, Homelessness, Hunger, Illness, Photojournalism, Poverty, Sorrow, Travel, Water, Women's Rights

A Village of Sorrow

Gabura is an isolated village near the mangrove forest Sunderban in Satkhira district of southwestern Bangladesh. Gabura, an isolated village nears the great Sundarban, the largest Mangrove forest in the world. The village has been suffering from scarcity of drinking water and salinity for more than three decades. For decades, it was a story of scarcity, there was no safe water for drinking, and whatever there was, it was full of saline.

In 2009 a deadly cyclone, Aila destroyed the whole village, killing more than 200 people. Now after 2009, after the deadly cyclone Aila, almost everything is destroyed, killing more than 200 people. The cyclone also severely harmed the remained water sources as the seawater wipe out all ponds and wells. Now it is more like, "Water water everywhere, not a single drop to drink". The survived villagers have been living on the river protection dam, refusing to go back their own houses, as the salt-water still remain inside the village since the devastating cyclone.

The poor villagers, mostly women and children are passing their days under the open sky, in the temporary shelters in an extremely vulnerable situation. Now the poorest of the poor has not much to lose anymore! Living in temporary shelters, knowing future hardly holds anything for them! The survivors of Gabura desperately need food and drinking water. Without proper food and enough drinking water hurriedly, it does not seem life will go on in Gabura in the near future!

LinkedIn Icon Facebook Icon Twitter Icon
9,507

Also by Andrew Biraj —

Story

Editorial Portraits

Andrew Biraj
Story

2020 U.S. Election- Portraits

Andrew Biraj
Story

Afghanistan; Kabul Daily Life

Andrew Biraj / Kabul
Story

Single Images

Andrew Biraj
Story

2020 U.S. Presidential Election

Andrew Biraj / Washington, D.C.
Story

Podcasts I PHOTOS & STORIES

Andrew Biraj
Story

George Floyd Protest; Washington, D.C.

Andrew Biraj / Washington, D.C.
Story

THE SOLITARY SPRING - DAYS OF PANDEMIC

Andrew Biraj
Story

THROUGH MY WINDOWS

Andrew Biraj
Story

Ship Breaking Yard; Bangladesh

Andrew Biraj
Story

Tobacco Children; Bangladesh

Andrew Biraj
Story

Tearsheets

Andrew Biraj
Story

Plight of Garment Workers in Bangladesh

Andrew Biraj
Story

Floods in Bangladesh

Andrew Biraj
Story

Myanmar; Cyclone Nargis Aftermath

Andrew Biraj / Myanmar
Story

Cambodian Landmine Victims

Andrew Biraj / Siem Reap
Story

Jute Mill Workers; Bangladesh

Andrew Biraj
Story

Stranded Bihari Community; Bangladesh

Andrew Biraj
Story

Drug Rehab Center for Children; Bangladesh

Andrew Biraj
Cyclone Aila Aftermath; Bangladesh by Andrew Biraj
Sign-up for
For more access