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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-432099-180
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 17, 1999Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator J. Brady Anderson announced today that the Agency is providing $7.5 million in humanitarian assistance for cyclone victims in India. This includes the provision of $1.17 million to support an emergency relief program through Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The grant will provide shelter, clothing, and seeds/tools for kitchen gardens to supplement bulk food assistance for 150,000 persons in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, and Puri. USAID is also planning another grant proposal for $2 million for household kits, consisting of clothing, cooking utensils, basic tools, plastic sheeting, and sleeping mats; seeds and tools for kitchen gardens; and, clean drinking water.
This assistance is in response to a severe cyclone in the Bay of Bengal that hit the eastern coast of India, causing floods and wind damage in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal states on October 18 and 19. A second, larger cyclone struck India's eastern coastline on October 29, exacerbating the damage in all disaster-affected areas, particularly Orissa and West Bengal states.
"The decision for additional assistance was recommended by our USAID Regional Advisor for Disaster Assistance following his assessments of the damaged areas, and in coordination with the Government of India, the United Nations, the USAID Mission, and key relief organizations," said Administrator Anderson. "This assistance will help to meet the needs of the approximately 15 million people who have been affected by the cyclone."
Rep. Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), Ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee applauded the decision to provide additional U.S. government assistance to cyclone victims in India. "This cyclone is one of the worst disasters in Indian history and has devastated the state of Orissa," Gejdenson noted. "The Indian government and the people of Orissa have done an heroic job in coping with the effects of this catastrophe. This additional assistance is a demonstration of the sympathy and support of the American people."
On November 2, USAID redirected 10,380 MT of Title II assistance consisting of corn-soya blend, vegetable oil, and bulgur wheat to CARE and CRS to meet the food needs of 1.2 million cyclone victims in Orissa State over the next several months. This assistance is valued at $4.15 million.
U.S. Ambassador to India Richard F. Celeste issued a disaster declaration on October 22, and USAID responded immediately by providing $25,000 to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to meet the immediate needs of affected persons. On October 29, following the second cyclone, Ambassador Celeste requested and USAID provided approximately $107,000 to the USAID Mission to support a grant to CARE for the local purchase of plastic sheeting.
As of November 14, the Ministry of Agriculture's Central Disaster Mitigation Center (CDMC) reports 9,465 persons killed and 2,260 persons injured as a result of the two cyclones. More than 8,100 of these deaths are in Jagatsinghpur District alone. In addition, the CDMC reports that the cyclone has affected approximately 15 million persons, damaged 124,900 houses, destroyed 1.60 million hectares of cropland, and killed 355,000 cattle.
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
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