Embracing the World immediately began relief work, with doctors from its AIMS Hospital in Kochi, Kerala, flying to Kolkata on May 29th. A medical camp commenced on 30th May in the village of Maipith Naginabad (South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal).

"The cyclone had destroyed the entire village," said Br. Sadashiva, the monastic in charge of the Cyclone Aila relief work. "Even the roads were destroyed. We had to unload our supplies and shift them into small trolleys and also carry them as on top of our heads in some places in order to reach the village school. In fact, in Maipith Naginabad, the school was the only building still standing."

Another camp was conducted in a remote tribal village named Deulbari Debipur, deep in the Sundarbans Jungle (infamous for Bengal tigers). "Deulbari was only accessible by boat. The roads had been totally washed away leaving only deep gorges in their place," said Sadashiva.

"In Deulbari, the doctors had to treat several people with severe dehydration," said Sadashiva. "We had to hang the saline bottles from pillars on the veranda in order to treat all the people. Soon they all stabilized and were able to return home."

The camps were conducted for a total of 10 days, with the doctors treating approximately 3,000 people, dispensing more than $2,080 U.S.D. worth of free medicine. Embracing the World volunteers also distributed approximately 800 pieces clothing and blankets, served 6,000 free meals and gave away two tons of rice.

"We've never received help like this before," said Manik, age 33, of Maipith Naginabad. "Cyclones come from time to time. During such calamities groups will visit us for a day or two, give something and go away. No group before has stayed so long, cooked for us and fed us with so much love."