wfn.org | ACT Moves to Aid India Cyclone Victims

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 20, 1998

ACT MOVES TO AID INDIA CYCLONE VICTIMS
98-13-088-AH

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Action by Churches Together (ACT) moved quickly to
aid victims of violent storms in on India's northeast coastal areas of
Orissa and West Bengal.  ACT-related agencies initiated immediate relief
operations in the areas affected by the cyclone, providing food other
relief assistance from nearby contingency stores.
     Cyclones with winds up to 112 miles per hour hit the area March 24
and again March 29. At least 200 people were killed and more than 1,000
were seriously injured, ACT said.   An estimated 10,000 people were left
homeless as the storm flattened houses in more than 20 villages.  An
additional 50,000 people are directly or indirectly affected by broken
power lines and disruption to infrastructure and public transport routes.
     ACT's partners have completed further assessments of emergency relief
and reconstruction needs, and ACT is seeking $458,000 for food, water
supply, shelter, medical and other assistance for vulnerable victims of the
storm.
     ACT is a worldwide network of churches meeting human need through
coordinated emergency response.  In Orissa and West Bengal ACT is working
through the Lutheran World Federation and Churches Auxiliary for Social
Action, the relief and development agency of the ecumenical churches in
India.
     The cyclone struck the Midnapore district in West Bengal and the
Balasore district of Orissa.  According to villagers, "a spiraling ball of
fire" descended from the heavens, smashed homes and slammed people against
trees, ACT reports.  A school building  in Raipatna collapsed during the
cyclone, killing a large number of children.  Drinking water sources have
been polluted or damaged and other school buildings
were destroyed in the mostly rural area, ACT reports.
     ACT will  target its humanitarian aid to 4,000 families who have lost
most of their belongings and some of whom are now living in the relief
camps set up by the district administration and state government.  They are
in desperate need of food, clothes, domestic kitchen utensils, bed sheets,
blankets,  temporary shelters and medical aid, ACT says.
     ACT will provide relief and rehabilitation to 750 families who lost
their houses and other assets.  A larger population will benefit from
sanitation assistance, drinking water facilities, school reconstruction and
supplementary nutrition programs supplied through ACT.
     The storm killed a large number of oxen and other domestic animals
causing severe economic hardship for the rural farming communities which
depend on draft
animals for all agricultural operations.  ACT reports, "Together with the
stored food grains, seed kept apart for sowing in the coming monsoon
planting season has also been destroyed."  ACT will help farming families
with draft animals as well as seeds "to enable their quick economic
recovery."

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html