GOAL is bringing assistance to thousands of homeless people in Western India following January's devastating earthquake. Over 20,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands left homeless in the huge quake which rocked the Gujarat region.
"The devastation is some of the worst I've ever seen," said GOAL's emergency co-ordinator in India, Ray Jordan. "An area twice the size of Ireland has been flattened and millions of people have been severely affected. The scale of the damage is difficult to comprehend. Everywhere I went in Gujarat I heard heartbreaking stories of school children and teachers, doctors, nurses and patients, families and loved ones- all buried in the rubble".

"Many large buildings have been torn apart or are too dangerous to re-enter and people have moved to open ground where relief camps have been set up," he continued. "Whole towns will have to be levelled before the rebuilding begins"

GOAL has distributed shelter materials and other aid items to homeless families in villages near the town of Bhuj which was at the epicentre of the quake.

GOAL has distributed essential family packs which contain food, cooking utensils, torches, lanterns, and basic hygiene and first aid items in these villages as well as tarpaulins to provide shelter for homeless families.

GOAL is also providing educational materials including books, stationery and furniture to schools which were destroyed in the earthquake.

"The response of the Irish people to date has been fantastic," said GOAL Director John O'Shea. "I want to pass on the gratitude of those who have benefited from the GOAL appeal. It will help thousands of people to survive the coming months as the rebuilding programme begins".

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