The West Bengal Scientology Volunteer Ministers are seasoned disaster relief specialists, who recently helped Bihar floods and the Mumbai terror attacks victims with emergency response. In addition to caring for the physical needs of those affected by the cyclone, these volunteers are trained to provide Scientology Assists, simple techniques developed by the Scientology founder, L Ron Hubbard, that speed recovery from the effects of a disaster by helping people overcome the emotional and spiritual aspects of trauma.

The Scientology volunteers have been assisting government agencies along with other private relief organisations, first in the search and rescue operation, and also in providing much-needed supplies to those who are stranded. Scientology Volunteer Ministers assisted officials during the aftermath of Cyclone Alia. The cyclone is responsible for the deaths of at least 200 people in Bangladesh and India. More than a million were marooned, left homeless, or crowded into government-run shelters, schools or makeshift camps without adequate supplies or sanitation.

In Bangladesh, the storm inundated vast stretches of rice paddies and cropland with salty seawater. It submerged the entire coastal island of Nijhum Dwip, leaving its 25,000 residents homeless.