U.S. Announces Another $1.3 Million (Rs. 5.6 Crore) for Disaster Relief in Tamil Nadu

January 11, 2005

NEW DELHI -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced another $1.3 million (Rs. 5.68 crores) in grants aimed at disaster relief in heavily affected areas of Tamil Nadu. Non-governmental partners based in India will expand the focus of U.S. Government assistance to build temporary shelters and begin rehabilitation in selected sites. Efforts to ensure safe water supplies and adequate sanitation continue. On-the-ground U.S. government assistance
in India now totals $2.8 million (Rs. 12.23 crores).

A cash-for-work program led by World Vision India will construct 2,500 temporary shelters, under
a nearly $900,000 (Rs. 3.93 crores) grant, while providing families the opportunity to earn money to meet other household needs.

A grant of more than $440,000 (Rs. 1.92 crores) to Project Concern International, India, will fund recovery and rehabilitation in four villages. Activities include building temporary shelters; repairing boats for the fishing industry; starting "cash-for-work" options for men, women and young adults related to disaster clean-up; and organizing child day care centers, so mothers can re-establish households or seek income opportunities, and children can heal from the trauma.

USAID disaster relief activities take place in close cooperation with local government officials and
a local network of NGO partners. Assistance complements Government of India efforts.

"We have seen a dynamic and effective response from the government of Tamil Nadu," says Rebecca Scheurer, a USAID disaster expert who was dispatched to the field on December 29
to assess the situation in Southern India. "Humanitarian relief efforts are helping people return to normal life."

Through USAID India, the U.S. Government has provided more than $3.1 million (Rs. 13.54 crore) in humanitarian assistance. Earlier grants total $1.5 million, including:

• $50,000 (Rs. 21.8 lakhs) to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for immediate humanitarian relief,
• $50,000 (Rs. 21.8 lakhs) to the International Red Cross for tsumani relief operations, and
• $650,000 (Rs. 2.84 crores) to CARE USA, and $750,000 (Rs. 3.27 crores) to Catholic Relief Services (India) to ensure potable water and sanitation services for Indians.