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
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