wfn.org | ADRA Receives ECHO Funding For Orissa

[APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com]

Cyclone Rehabilitation

March 5, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

ADRA Receives ECHO Funding For Orissa Cyclone 
Rehabilitation

New Delhi, India.   The European Community 
Humanitarian Office (ECHO) agreed to provide the 
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) 
Germany office with nearly half a million dollars 
in order for ADRA to continue its rehabilitation 
work in eastern India following the "super 
cyclone" that hit during the last weekend of 
October.

The grant is a portion of the funding ECHO 
released in late December 1999 to several 
humanitarian organisations responding to the 
disaster. "[The funding] is dedicated to meeting 
the ongoing needs of people affected by the 
cyclone. It covers the basics for survival: food 
aid, basic healthcare, shelter and 
water/sanitation," ECHO printed in a release on 
February 7.

With the funds, ADRA plans to help rehabilitate 
the income generation capacity of affected 
families in Orissa, according to Dennis Tidwell, 
ADRA India country director. Some specific 
activities include re-plantation of coconut 
orchards; establishment of cattle and goat banks 
to start replacing the 300,000 livestock lost in 
the cyclones; repairing primary schools and 
health stations; disaster preparedness training 
and limited distribution of food supplies to 
vulnerable groups.

"The first phase of the project is expected to 
run for four months," explains Tidwell, "but ECHO 
agreed to an additional eight-month period for 
monitoring the livestock banks to make sure that 
they are functioning well."

Radek Spinka of the Czech Republic will arrive in 
India on February 23 to serve as ADRA Germany's 
co-ordinator. ADRA will also be partnering with 
the Orissa-based National Institute for Social 
Work and Social Science (NISWASS) for the 
implementation of this project.

ADRA India has already completed its initial 
immediate relief operations in Orissa with 
funding from the German government, ADRA 
International Headquarters and ADRA Sweden In co-
ordination with the leaders of the Ganjam 
District in India, ADRA provided food, blankets 
and clothing to approximately 3,300 of the most 
affected families in 10 villages in late November 
1999. The food, including nearly 200 tons (180 
metric tonnes) of rice, and other relief 
materials were provided through a food-for-work 
program.

ADRA is also assisting a boarding school in 
Orissa that educates tribal children. ADRA 
Netherlands is helping to provide beds for the 
students, who have been sleeping on the floor. 
"Recently one young student survived a nocturnal 
snake bite," says Tidwell.

ADRA, established in 1956, is an independent, 
humanitarian agency created with the specific 
purpose of individual and community development 
and disaster relief in more than 120 countries 
world-wide.