Period covered: 26 January - 26 February 2001
Review of the first month of the operation
One month after a devastating earthquake hit Gujarat, the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) / Federation operation in support of 300,000 beneficiaries is meeting objectives, providing medical facilities, clean water, shelter and relief material. This situation report provides an overview of the challenges and achievements to date.

The context

At 08.50 hours on Friday, 26 January, a series of powerful earthquakes struck Gujarat state in western India, peaking at a massive 7.9 on the Richter scale, with tremors being felt across several states as well as in Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay) and in neighbouring Pakistan. The epicentre of the quake was 30 km north of the town of Bhuj (population of 150,000), the headquarters of Gujarat’s Kutch district while, at the same time, seriously affecting the area within the range of 100 km from the epicentre including Ahmadabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat.

Infrastructure has been severely damaged, resulting in large scale collapse of buildings, mine cave-ins, train derailments and power failure, cutting off the water supply.

Latest events

Another earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale rocked northern India, Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia on Sunday, 25 February. The earthquake, with its epicentre at the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, struck precisely one month after the devastating quake which hit Gujarat, claiming thousands of lives. No damage has been reported thus far, but citizens of larger cities were frightened to return to their homes in high-rise buildings hours after the earthquake.

Furthermore, forecasts predict that a third drought is probable this summer in the state of Gujarat where the monsoon season has seen below average rainfall, and the consequences could be devastating without an appropriate campaign for water conservation, deep bore wells and water tanks.

Within the authorities’ "Gujarat reconstruction package" (see situation report number 12), the chief minister of Gujarat has approved specific guidelines for all organisations and institutions wishing to take part in the reconstruction of the affected areas. In order to ensure timely implementation of the rehabilitation programme, the government of Gujarat has announced the establishment of a new department for earthquake relief, as well as rehabilitation advisory committees at state and district levels. A disaster preparedness task force, with the mandate to coordinate relief and rescue operations in the event of natural calamities, has also been constituted.

Members of the upper house of the Indian parliament (Rajya Sabha) have held heated discussions regarding continued allegations of discrimination in terms of religion or caste in distribution of relief.

Red Cross/Red Crescent action

Overview

The International Federation has sought CHF 25.6 million in cash, kind and services to assist 300,000 beneficiaries (60,000 families) for four months to support IRCS activities in the most affected areas in the district of Kutch, state of Gujarat. Some 40 Red Cross Red Crescent Societies - almost one quarter of the International Federation membership - and/or their governments have so far extended their support to the operation.

The main objective is to provide the beneficiaries with essential shelter, health and medical services, safe water and other urgently needed relief items.

In support of IRCS activities, the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies responded with relief supplies and emergency response units (ERUs) comprising a 350-bed joint Norwegian/Finnish Red Cross emergency response referral hospital, German and French Red Cross water and sanitation units, a Japanese Red Cross mobile clinic, a British Red Cross logistics emergency response team, a telecommunications emergency response team from the Austrian and Spanish Red Cross Societies and a Spanish Red Cross emergency response primary health care unit.

One month after the earthquake and the launch of the Red Cross Red Crescent emergency operation, the ERUs operating from the Red Cross compound in the town of Bhuj, as well as in Sukhpur and Bhachau, have begun gradual integration with the Federation’s system and structures and a longer term involvement.

Over the month, the affected area, including the operational site, received a number of visitors from the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement as well as members of the international community

The first two members of the International Federation planning mission team arrived in India on 25 February and started preliminary work within their mandate to prepare the strategic framework, plan of action and budget for the recovery and rehabilitation phase of the Red Cross Red Crescent operation in Gujarat. Members of the planning mission will present their findings and recommendations at the partnership meeting confirmed for Delhi on Thursday and Friday, 22 and 23 March 2001.

Indian Red Cross Society

The IRCS, supported by the International Federation, has been actively engaged in emergency activities in Gujarat from the onset of the operation. A team comprising the IRCS deputy secretary and the Federation disaster preparedness and information delegates reached Ahmadabad 22 hours after the disaster and liaised immediately with the IRCS branch officials and the state authorities.

To date, the IRCS Secretary General has visited the affected area three times and has actively participated in mobilising relief volunteers and health workers for the Red Cross Red Crescent operation in the affected area. There are now 14 teams involved in relief distributions and more than 100 local health staff working in the Red Cross referral hospital in Bhuj.

Other IRCS officials, including a member of the managing board from the state branch of Uttar Pradesh, have also visited the operational site and extended their continuous support to the Gujarat state branch as well as to the IRCS headquarters.

Health

The Red Cross medical facilities were set up as a response to urgent medical needs in the aftermath of the earthquake, given the serious damage to the health infrastructure in the district of Kutch. The following cumulative statistics give details of Red Cross medical activities.

Presently, the impact of the imminent closure of temporary expatriate and military hospitals is reflected in the number of patients in the Spanish Red Cross primary health care unit in Bhachau. It is expected that the average daily number of patients will increase to 200, including patients with respiratory problems, fever and diarrhoea. Both the Spanish and Japanese Red Cross medical teams have continued to conduct health assessments in the area of operation: Bhachau and Bhuj sub-districts. It appears that, in general, the health status of the population in these heavily damaged areas is poor, with cases of malnutrition and the IRCS/Federation is planning a nutritional survey, in conjunction with the World Food Programme. To date, there are no signs of outbreaks of epidemics.

Since the disaster, the health teams have handled a number of complicated deliveries and stillborn children. Given these pediatric and obstetric cases, and with no permanent local specialists, it is recommended that an expatriate pediatrician and gynecologist should be available. Referral points for separate groups of patients such as orthopedic cases, cancer and tuberculosis patients have been identified. The new health monitoring system has been installed in the hospital. Four more tents for the hospital wards are under consideration and toys have been ordered for children accompanying inpatients.

As the government doctors and nurses are deployed at the hospital on the basis of a weekly rotation system, their number changes on weekly basis and presently stands at 148 (75 nurses, 10 doctors, 63 support staff) with 22 expatriate hospital delegates. It is, therefore, important at this point to ensure longer term engagement of the local hospital staff in order to maintain continuity and smooth integration into the state health system. In order to ensure the observance of treatment guidelines and protocols, instructions have been issued and a duty roster for doctors prepared.

A medical logistics system has been introduced to serve the hospital and the out patient units in Shukpur and Bhachau. This will facilitate appropriate use of donated, locally-produced and imported medical supplies.

The orthopedic technician finalised the assessment of the Indian Red Cross artificial limb centre in Ahmadabad. This facility consists of a prosthesis workshop and a physiotherapy department. The building was severely damaged in the earthquake and work is presently carried out in the open. Before the disaster, the centre was producing around 30 prostheses per month. According to the assessment, an estimated 150 prostheses per month could be produced using present techniques. The precise number of amputees is not yet available and therefore it is not possible to determine exact needs. To date, the Red Cross hospital has recorded two amputations and eight re-amputations. It is estimated, however, that around 400 amputations were performed in the affected area immediately after the disaster.

Water & Sanitation

The German and French Red Cross water and sanitation teams have been involved in installing the water storage and water treatment units as well as in the construction of latrines, distribution of water/sanitation material and training of local water authorities and technicians who will continue maintaining the facilities. The table below shows results of their one month engagement:

Within the reporting period, a further assessment was carried out in Anjar sub-district. The results indicate that many permanent water storage reservoirs were damaged in the earthquake and will need to be reconstructed. Possible solutions are under consideration and meanwhile, the collapsible bladders provide valuable storage capacity. The German Red Cross team continued improving the latrine arrangements in the Red Cross compound and installed three additional 15,000 litre bladders in Bhuj municipality and in Anjar taluka. Three additional public health laboratory technicians have been trained in water analysis. Negotiations are underway with the local authorities to connect the Red Cross compound to the Bhuj water network. The French Red Cross water/sanitation team has installed two 2,000 litre water tanks in Bhachau sub-district.

Relief distributions

With the immediate response of a number of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, relief distributions in Gujarat began as early as 30 January. With resources stretched to the maximum and involving an increasing number of Indian Red Cross volunteers, the breakdown of distribution activities over a one month period is as follows:

As regards ongoing activities, a relief workshop was held on 24 February. The workshop was the first opportunity for all Indian Red Cross volunteers to come together to discuss assessment and distribution issues.

There have been accusations in the media - not directed at the Red Cross - related to allegedly biased distributions of relief supplies. As background, there are many different organisations working in Gujarat some of which are religious, caste based or politically-oriented. Many affected villages/districts have been 'adopted' by these organisations. This has led to a perception that there are vulnerable groups and districts that have not been provided with assistance. The Red Cross is therefore providing shelter materials and blankets in areas where there are numbers of vulnerable who were not included in distributions carried out by such organisations.

Areas of operation are identified by a) coordination with other agencies; b) rapid field assessments to new areas; c) information provided by the Gujarati authorities and d) information provided by individuals and local organisations.

Valuable information concerning areas with numbers of vulnerable requiring assistance has been provided by local organisations and individuals arriving from villages to request relief. Each village/area is visited individually by an Indian Red Cross/Federation assessment team which then assesses the vulnerability of the village.

Beneficiary numbers are based on figures provided by village and community leaders. All families in the village are covered to ensure all castes are included in the distribution.

Distribution of relief aid is then undertaken by IRCS distribution teams supported by Federation delegates. The Indian Red Cross teams include volunteers from throughout India to minimise tendencies towards bias; 19 trucks have been rented in order to support distribution to some 2,000 families per day.

The distribution process is conducted in a controlled environment - the area is guarded and one family only is entitled to receive aid at a time. Identification of individual families is verified on production of Indian government-issued ration cards. Families without ration cards are verified by the village/community leader before they are issued with assistance. Each family then puts a signature (or provides a thumb print) on the list of beneficiaries. The lists are collected by the Federation relief department and filed in order to be double-checked in case of any complaints.

In urban areas such as Bhuj township, families in each neighbourhood are provided with stamped coupons prior to the day of distribution to simplify the identification process.

Logistics

Since the beginning of the operation, 36 flights have brought relief into Ahmadabad (5 flights) and Bhuj (31 flights) with approximately 1,800 tons of relief material on board.

Since 4 February, the Federation charter plane has made 23 flights with the routing Delhi-Bhuj-Delhi with 351 passengers, luggage and 3 tons of cargo. There are ten vehicles presently used in the operation in Gujarat.

The logistics movements during the reporting period (23 - 26 February) are as follows:

A minibus with 21 seats has been hired to shuttle personnel and visitors to and from the airport and to transport local staff from the Red Cross referral hospital. The Ahmadabad logistics office was visited in order to improve coordination relating to procurement between Bhuj and Ahmadabad. A logistics planning mission was completed last week and findings have been shared with the National Society.

Telecommunications

In order to provide accurate information concerning the emergency, anticipate needs and account for contributions, Austrian and Spanish Red Cross telecommunications emergency response units supported by an officer from the Federation Secretariat, set up communications within the disaster area linking the operational site in Bhuj with the Federation regional delegation in Delhi and the Federation headquarters. A VHF connection has been provided for vehicles used by the health, relief and logistics delegates.

In recent days, telecommunications delegates have mostly been engaged in maintenance of telecommunications equipment used for the operation.

Tracing

It has been established that needs for tracing in the affected area are quite modest. The people of Gujarat and their communities overseas established an information network through different channels of communication almost immediately after the disaster although ground ‘phone lines were down for days.

The tracing service in the IRCS is, however, relatively new in relation to other traditional activities, and the ICRC is taking this opportunity to promote tracing services within the Gujarat state branch. An IRCS tracing officer has been engaged and is undergoing training.

Psychological support

The psychological support project is in its initial stages with assessment work taking place since the arrival of the first members of the team in the third week after the disaster.

Presently, coordination and planning continue with the Indian Red Cross, the authorities, the professional community and NGOs in Gujarat: Ahmadabad and Bhuj. A rehabilitation centre for amputees in Ahmadabad was visited with the possibility of including support to amputees in the project. The NGO, Anala, was visited with a view to identifying potential volunteers for the psycho-social network. A presentation was prepared for a group of leading psychiatrists in Ahmadabad. Documents on evaluation, training and delegate selection criteria have been finalised.

Delegation

Although the Red Cross compound was built up at the same as the emergency relief operation was put in place, standard procedures were introduced without delay and were applied to the hospital and relief and logistics work.

In parallel with the ongoing emergency operation, a transitional period in the Red Cross compound in Bhuj as well as in the logistics office in Ahmadabad, which includes the hand-over of responsibilities to newly-arrived delegates, is also in progress. The back-up office for the earthquake operation located at the Federation regional delegation in Delhi has taken shape. With the arrival of three new delegates (administration, human resources, liaison) and the forthcoming transfer of offices to the IRCS compound, the ongoing relief operation is gradually changing its profile in view of the envisaged longer-term recovery and rehabilitation phase. Two additional vehicles for the earthquake operation and two vehicles for the regional delegation have been ordered to add flexibility to the support function of the delegation. According to the latest list of delegates, there are currently 153 delegates involved in the earthquake operation in Gujarat.

Outstanding needs

Additional unearmarked cash contributions remain of paramount importance, particularly in view of the envisaged recovery and rehabilitation phase of the Red Cross Red Crescent operation in Gujarat.

External relations - Government/UN/NGOs/Media

Contacts with the government of Gujarat were established immediately after the arrival of the Indian Red Cross/Federation team in Ahmadabad, 20 hours after the disaster. Since then, the relationship with the local authorities in Bhuj, as well as at state level, has been maintained and the Indian Red Cross emergency operation supported by Red Cross Red Crescent Societies worldwide has been commended within government circles.

Red Cross Red Crescent information delegates have given an average of 20 media interviews per day since the start of the crisis.

Delhi

The government of Gujarat has issued a list of 256 most affected villages with their geographical location and population (between 10 persons to 11,500 persons), together with an indication of which villages have already received requests for partnership within the Gujarat Reconstruction Package.

The following talukas (sub-districts) have been listed:

District of Kutch: Anjar (39 villages); Bhachau (63 villages); Bhuj (39 villages); Rapar (33 villages);
District of Jamnagar: Jodiya (19 villages);
District of Rajkot: Morvi (10 villages); Maliya (15 villages);
District of Surendranagar: Halvad (13 villages);
District of Mahesana: Sami (2 villages);
District of Banas-Kantha: Santalpur (23 villages).

Bhuj

In the relief sector, UNDP and other agencies have agreed to compile a map showing geographical distribution of tents. The tents donated by the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies will be distributed in areas not covered by other agencies.

The UN World Food Programme, the International Federation, the Indian Red Cross Society and Save the Children envisage conducting a nutritional survey amongst children between 6 to 59 months of age in the district of Kutch. The Federation's nutrition delegate will arrive in Bhuj next week and the survey will be conducted over a 2 to 3 week period. The initiative has been discussed with the Indian child development services (ICDS) authorities who have had a national nutrition programme across India since 1972. The initiative for the survey arises from serious concern as to the impact of the earthquake and the second drought on the precarious nutritional status in this district. The survey will provide precious quantitative information to guide future interventions by the government and other organisations in this field.

The four week anniversary of the earthquake was marked by the issue of a press release which has generated interest. Reuters, an Australian television crew and Channel News Asia from Singapore are presently working on stories related to the press release. Star TV carried several stories related to Red Cross activities. Other interest has come from TV Asahi, the Hindustan Times, Doordeshan, Gulf Today, the BBC World Service and NHK. There is still a steady stream of media interest as journalists return to Bhuj from time to time to follow-up their stories.

Contributions

See Annex 1 for details. The appeal coverage currently stands at 109 per cent.

Hiroshi Higashiura
Head
Asia & Pacific Department

Peter Rees-Gildea
Head a.i.
Relationship Management Department

(pdf* format)

* Get Adobe Acrobat Viewer (free)