period covered: 1 July - 31 August 2000
The rehabilitation phase of the operation in Orissa State is progressing well, despite some delays caused by monsoonal rains. Renovation of the Red Cross maternity hospital in Bharampur has been completed, work on the Red Cross dispensaries is moving forward and renovation of the Orissa State Branch Headquarters has almost been finalised. Much emphasis is currently placed on community participation in disaster preparedness activities and on capitalising on local coping capacities. In view of the delays in construction work as a result of heavy rains, the operation will be extended until 31 December 2000.
The context
A violent cyclone hit India’s eastern coast on 29 October 1999. Winds of up to 260 kph (155 mph) raged for over 36 hours. The winds caused a 7 metre tidal wave that swept more than 20 km inland and brought massive destruction and death to a number of coastal districts in the state of Orissa.
It is estimated that more than 10 million people in 12 coastal belt districts were affected by the cyclone and over 10,000 people lost their lives.
The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) responded immediately with an emergency relief operation.
With the support of the Federation, the Orissa State Branch extended the relief operation over a three month period and later the operation was further extended to include a rehabilitation phase. The scope of the rehabilitation programme, in addition to the difficult environment, particularly the incessant monsoon rain and the acute shortage of masons, resulted in a further extension until 30 September 2000.
Latest events
The main focus of international media has been on the flood affected areas in Assam and Andhra Pradesh and drought in Gujarat and Rajastan. The local media, during the last days of the month of August, also reported on several occasions on the floods in the Jeypore where over 10,000 people from 25 tribal villages were marooned and some 1,500 huts swept away.
In many parts of Orissa, drinking water problems persist and a large number of jaundice cases have been reported. According to the local media, the inhabitants of Surala, Sumandi and Kataru Panchayats of Ganjam district fear the risk of high tidal waves and flood waters from the river Bahunda. The latest information is that some 300 families from 20 villages in the area have left their houses and moved to safer places fearing flooding by sea water. Some of the villagers have found shelter in the Orissa State branch Red Cross building. Their fear has been heightened by the continuing low pressure over the Andhra coast and high tidal waves, as well as increase in rainfall during the month of August.
Red Cross/Red Crescent action
Rehabilitation
Construction work at the various rehabilitation sites has slowed following the monsoon rains that have lashed down in the region for over a month. Weather conditions will certainly further delay construction work.
Agricultural support
Agricultural training for farmers was held in cyclone shelters in accordance with the plan of action. These gatherings were used for the distribution of agricultural tools that were part of the agricultural kit. The distribution of all kits including ploughs, phowrahs, spades, sickles, hand pumps, sprayers, paddy seeds, fertilisers, pesticide, horticultural saplings (mango, cashew nut, guava) was completed in the last week of July.
Renovation and/or upgrading of the Red Cross Maternity Hospital in Bharampur
Renovation/rehabilitation work on the hospital has been completed and the technical hand over is to be organised in September between the contractor, staff from Orissa State branch Red Cross and representatives from the hospital. The ground floor of the hospital was raised by some 10 cm. in order to prevent future flooding. The quality of work is excellent and the renovated maternity hospital will serve a population of 250,000 inhabitants in the Berhampur area.
Renovation and upgrading of the Red Cross Blood Bank in Cuttack
Rehabilitation of the Red Cross Blood Bank continues to face difficulties. The major roof section has been completed, but further work is required. A recent change of contractor should now significantly speed up the process.
Renovation/reconstruction of Red Cross Dispensaries
The majority of the construction work on one of the dispensaries in Tikarapanga, Kendrapara district, was completed at the end of August. Remaining internal work which includes plastering, painting of walls, electrical work, installation of water and sanitation facilities and cleaning of the dispensary building, is expected to be completed during the month of September. Progress on the other two dispensaries, Panchatuti in Bhadrak district and Asana in Puri district, has been significant, although the increase in rainfall is expected to effect the implementation time schedule. Construction of external walls, internal dividing walls and preparatory work for installation of sanitary facilities have been completed. The materials for the remaining work have been delivered to the sites and construction of the roofs is expected to commence in September.
Renovation of the Orissa State Branch Headquarters
Work has almost been completed: only the installation of the door and window fittings and white washing remain outstanding.
Building materials for cyclone resistant housing
An assessment was carried out by a senior construction delegate from the Federation. Some contracts have been reviewed and new contracts signed in order to expedite construction activities. More frequent visits and discussions with Federation delegates and Orissa State Branch staff has made significant impact on progress achieved.
Reconstruction of schools
Construction work is ongoing. Completion of one school, named Sarswati Academy in Puri district, is expected in early September. The official hand-over and inauguration programme is scheduled between 15 and 30 September. As for the rest of the schools under rehabilitation, construction materials have reached the sites. The contractors have been put under more pressure to hire additional labour.
However, the consultancy agency is following the work schedule developed by the senior construction delegate on a weekly basis and reports accordingly to the Orissa State Red Cross branch.
Construction of tube-wells
All 135 tube-wells have been sunk and are in use by the beneficiaries, as follows:
One tube-well covers the drinking water needs of approx. 25 families (average 5 members per family).
Medicaments and medical equipment
The procurement and distribution of medical equipment and medicaments is almost finalised. Once the reconstruction of the dispensaries is completed, these will be delivered to all three dispensaries in Pancutikiri (Bahrak district), Asana (Puri district) and Tikarapanga (Kendrapara district).
Educational material for primary schools i.e. school kits
Distribution of educational material for 300 primary schools in the State of Orissa has been carried out.
Food distribution
Distribution of food took placed in June 2000.
Mosquito Nets
20,000 mosquito nets have been supplied and distribution amongst the identified beneficiary families took place during the month of July 2000.
Strengthening of the capacity of the Orissa State Branch in Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Management
Two workshops took place in May and June: the first entitled "Lessons learned, Recommendations and Planning" was carried out for two groups: headquarters staff, including representatives of the Orissa Disaster Mitigation Progamme, and the Disaster Preparedness Committee (DPC) members and task force (TF) teams. The aim of the workshop was to develop a master contingency plan in both Orissa state branch. as well as at community level. Main themes of discussion focused on sustainability of the programme, training, disaster warning, maintenance of cyclone shelters, management of relief assistance in disaster situations and the relationship between the DPC/TF teams and local communities.
The second workshop dealt with disaster preparedness and was conducted in Bhubaneswar between 27 and 29 June. The secretaries of the district chapters of the Orissa State branch were in attendance, as were several key members and staff of the branch.
Credit-Saving Schemes
Workshops were organised to assess the needs of the self help groups that form an integral part of the Orissa Disaster Mitigation Programme. The entrepreneur officer provided information on accounts which have been opened and, as of the end of August, there were 48 such accounts.
Buffer Stocks
The Indian Red Cross Society National Headquarters has begun the distribution of buffer stocks by sending initial shipments to Orissa State branch Red Cross.
Other Red Cross activities
The Indian Red Cross Society, in co-operation with the Indira Ghandi National Open University (IGNOU), has launched a project entitled "Community Awareness on Disaster Preparedness" with a view to increasing community participation in preparedness and disaster management activities. The project covers 100 villages in two cyclone-prone districts of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara. The intention is to prepare a profile of each village and to document the indigenous coping capacity at community level.
At the beginning of August, training in community health, particularly in relation to the prevention of common diseases, was organised. In recent months, a disaster preparedness committee was formed with a view to reinforcing capacity building at community level. Members from various interest groups are represented: women, youth, opinion leaders, elected representatives and government officials. Fifty one volunteers from the community attended disaster preparedness and management training sessions organised by the project at the state headquarters' training centre. 120 women from the self help groups have been introduced to the credit saving scheme and in the district of Ganjam, health checks were offered during the course of which, 80 of patients were provided with medical assistance.
Outstanding needs
The appeal is fully covered, and there are no outstanding needs.
External relations - Government/UN/NGOs/Media
Regular weekly co-ordination meetings take place, chaired by the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority, NGOs and other civil society activists. The UN has also organised a meeting on the subject of "Community Based Disaster Preparedness" and an update on the community contingency plans and the list of 1,000 vulnerable villages along the coast of Orissa was shared among the participants. The purpose of the list is to co-ordinate activities among the different agencies in order to avoid duplication and to maximise available resources.
Contributions
Conclusion
In spite of substantial co-ordinated efforts, the coastal districts of Orissa - the cyclone affected areas -continue to suffer from extensive damage especially to housing and agriculture. Although IRCS/Federation programmes are showing a positive impact in the process of rehabilitation of the cyclone affected areas, worsening weather conditions may slow down progress, since the water level in the majority of districts in Orissa has now reached the danger level.
Hiroshi Higashiura
Director
Asia & Pacific Department
Peter Rees-Gildea
Director
Operations Funding and Reporting Department
This and other reports on Federation operations are available on the Federation's website: http://www.ifrc.org