U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
INDIA - Humanitarian Assistance
U.S. Government (USG) Assistance Summary #1,    Fiscal Year (FY) 2001*


August 22, 2001

* USAID/OFDA's response to the West Bengal floods began in FY 2000 and
continued into FY 2001.  The assistance outlined below is cumulative.



SUMMARY

The USG has provided nearly $19 million in emergency assistance in
response to the earthquake, drought, and two flood disasters in India
during FY 2001.  USAID/OFDA's assistance in response to the four disasters
is approximately $11 million.  The remaining USG emergency assistance was
provided through USAID/Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) and the U.S. Department
of Defense (DOD).  A breakout of the USG's assistance in response to the
four disasters is provided below.



FLOODS - WEST BENGAL

Background

- Particularly heavy monsoon rains from September 17-21, 2001, exacerbated
by the release of water from swelling dams, significantly affected eastern
India, most notably West Bengal.

- According to the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF), the floods impacted 68
municipalities in West Bengal, killed 1,262 people, affected more than 18
million residents, and resulted in the establishment of 21,484 relief
centers to provide for the needs of over 4 million evacuees. In addition,
UNICEF reported 1,886,976 houses, 2,375,636 hectares of cropland, 8,187
primary schools, 1,345 health facilities, 3,240 kilometers of highways and
district roads, and over 450 kilometers of railway either damaged or
destroyed. Flooding in West Bengal also significantly impacted the
livestock industry in West Bengal, killing cattle, goats, sheep, and
poultry.  According to the Government of India, economic losses from the
flooding in West Bengal amount to $1.2 billion.



USG Assistance

- A USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor participated in an assessment conducted by
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from August 20-22.

- On August 21, in response to the USAID/OFDA assessment, U.S. Chargé
d'Affaires Albert Thibault issued a disaster declaration for flooding in
India.  In response, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $25,000 through
USAID/New Delhi to the Prime Minister's National Disaster Relief Fund to
help meet the immediate needs of those most affected by the floods. 
Subsequently, USAID/OFDA provided an additional $25,000 through USAID/New
Delhi to the Prime Minister's National Disaster Relief Fund to further
support relief efforts.

- USAID/OFDA also provided $111,600 to the American Red Cross (ARC) for
the purchase and distribution of family packets to 30,000 beneficiaries;
$500,000 to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for the purchase and
distribution of food and non-food assistance to an undetermined number of
recipients; and, $183,800 to World Vision (WV) to meet the short-term food
needs and health security of 12,000 flood-affected families.

- USAID/OFDA also dispatched 160 rolls of plastic sheeting, four water
purification units, and 10 Zodiac boats for consignment to the Indian Red
Cross.  The cost for the purchase and transport of these commodities
totaled $381,340.  The Zodiac boats and water purification units remained
in India following the disaster for use during future disasters.

- In addition to USAID/OFDA assistance, USAID/FFP redirected 5,400 MT of
Title II emergency food commodities, valued at $2.4 million, from ongoing
government-to-government programs to flood victims.  A portion of these
commodities, which were distributed by CARE and CRS, benefited flood
victims in West Bengal.


USG Funding USG Agency
Implementing Partner
Type of Assistance
Amount


USAID/OFDA

Prime Minister's Fund
Immediate relief supplies
$50,000

American Red Cross
Emergency household kits
$111,600

Indian Red Cross
10 Zodiac boats, 160 rolls of plastic sheeting, and 4 water purification
units
$381,340

CRS
Emergency food and non-food assistance
$500,000

WV
Food and health assistance
$183,800

Total USAID/OFDA Assistance
$1,226,740



USAID/FFP

CARE and CRS
5,400 MT of food assistance
$2,400,000

Total USAID/FFP Assistance
$2,400,000

Total USG Assistance    $3,626,740



EARTHQUAKE

Background

- On January 26, at approximately 8:46 a.m. local time, an earthquake
measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale occurred in western India.  The United
States Geological Survey placed the epicenter of the earthquake 69
kilometers northeast of Bhuj in Gujarat State.

- According to the Government of India (GOI), the earthquake impacted
nearly 8,000 villages in 21 districts, resulting in more than 20,000
deaths, approximately 170,000 people injured, and almost 16 million people
affected.  According to the GOI, total infrastructure loss exceeded $453
million.  Approximately one million houses and 23,000 schoolrooms were
damaged or destroyed and three hospitals, 21 primary health centers, four
community health centers, and 140 health sub-centers were lost.  In
addition, the earthquake disrupted water supply, sanitation, electrical,
communication, and transport systems and destroyed mills, food warehouses,
and irrigation structures.



USG Assistance

- On January 28, U.S. Ambassador Richard F. Celeste declared an earthquake
disaster in India.

- Total USG emergency assistance in response to the earthquake amounted to
nearly $13 million.

- From January 28 through February 15, an eleven-person USAID/Disaster
Assistance Response Team (DART) was in-country to assess humanitarian
needs, determine appropriate USG assistance, oversee USG relief efforts,
liaise with other organizations involved in the emergency response, and
report on the general situation.

- Based on the recommendations of the USAID/DART, USAID/OFDA provided
nearly $8 million in assistance.

- This assistance included three airlifts of relief supplies, consisting
of two high-capacity water purification units, 10 water distribution kits,
429,040 sq. ft. of plastic sheeting, 830 tents, 16,000 blankets, 16,000
five-gallon collapsible water containers, nine 3,000-gallon water tanks,
10 generators, and 20 light stands, valued in excess of $1.5 million,
including procurement and transport.

- In addition, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $900,000 in technical equipment
to assist with debris removal efforts; $100,000 to the Prime Minister's
National Disaster Relief Fund; $25,840 for USAID/DART support costs; and,
more than $4.8 million to CRS, CARE, WV, the U.N. Development Program
(UNDP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) for interventions in the
shelter, water, sanitation, health/nutrition, emergency food distribution,
community infrastructure, and coordination sectors.  These programs
benefitted some 500,000 people.

- USAID/FFP redirected 1,813 metric tons (MT) of P.L. 480 Title II
emergency food assistance from ongoing programs to earthquake-affected
areas.  The food aid, valued at approximately $800,000, benefited
approximately 300,000 people.

- DOD dispatched a six-person Pacific Situational Assessment Team to
determine appropriate DOD assistance; provided 92 large tents, 10,000
blankets, 1,500 sleeping bags, two rough terrain forklifts, two water
trailers, and a 2.5-ton truck; and, incurred transport costs for the
commodities.



USG Funding
USG Agency
Implementing Partner
Type of Assistance
Amount

USAID/OFDA
Prime Minister's Fund
Immediate relief supplies
$100,000

USAID/New Delhi
In-kind commodities
$843,806

USAID/New Delhi
Technical equipment
$878,657

Commercial aviation companies
Airlifts
$704,000

CRS
Shelter, water, and sanitation
$1,590,625

CARE
Emergency food and community infrastructure
$1,800,000

UNDP
Shelter, water, sanitation, food, coordination
$400,000

WV
Nutrition and water
$852,403

WHO
Water, sanitation, and health
$232,000

DOD
Storage and transport of DOD commodities
$2,300

USAID/DART
Travel and administrative costs $25,840


Total USAID/OFDA Assistance     $7,429,631




USAID/FFP

CARE/CRS
Title II food assistance
$800,000

Total USAID/FFP Assistance      $800,000



DOD

Consigned to multiple entities
Relief supplies, equipment, and transport
$4,600,000


Total DOD Assistance    $ 4,600,000

Total USG Assistance    $12,829,631




DROUGHT

Background

- Approximately 70 percent of India is drought-prone due to weak or
irregular monsoons.  This year was the third consecutive year for drought
in India, where over 90 percent of the population is dependent on
groundwater for household supply.

- According to the GOI, a severe drinking water shortage and loss of
agricultural-related livelihoods placed more than 125 million people
at-risk in 152 districts of eight states (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and
Orissa).


USG Assistance

- In late April and early May 2001, USAID/OFDA's Regional Advisor for
South Asia conducted an assessment of drought conditions in affected
regions.  Based on the recommendations of the USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor,
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Albert Thibault declared a drought disaster on May
15.

- In response, USAID/OFDA provided a total of $1,255,520 in drought
assistance.

- This assistance included $25,000 provided through USAID/New Delhi to the
Prime Minister's National Disaster Relief Fund to help meet the immediate
needs of drought-affected families.  It also included $1,230,520 provided
to CARE and CRS in support of cash-for-work projects to rehabilitate and
construct new water harvesting structures, where appropriate, and
distribute drought-resistant seeds.  A total of 25,600 families in
Rajasthan and Gujarat states benefited from the cash-for-work projects and
seed distributions.


USG Funding

USG Agency
Implementing Partner
Type of Assistance
Amount

USAID/OFDA

Prime Minister's Fund
Immediate relief supplies
$25,000

CARE
Cash-for-work/drought-resistant seeds
$388,720

CRS
Cash-for-work/drought-resistant seeds
$841,800

Total USAID/OFDA Assistance     $1,255,520




FLOODS - ORISSA

Background

- Heavy and incessant rains have caused intense flooding in 24 of Orissa
State's 30 districts, most severely affecting the districts of Puri,
Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Khorda, and Angul.  Many of the affected
districts were just beginning to recover from the 1999 super cyclone when
the recent flooding began.

- According to the GOI, as of August 6, the floods have killed 98 people,
affected 9,341,000 residents, damaged 240,152 houses, destroyed 885,000
hectares of cropland, and killed 14,183 cattle.


USG Assistance

- A USAID/OFDA program officer, based in New Delhi on a six-month
assignment, and USAID/OFDA's Regional Advisor for South Asia conducted
flood assessments in Orissa State in July.  Based on the recommendations
of the USAID/OFDA disaster specialists, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Albert
Thibault declared a flood disaster on July 20.

- In response, USAID/OFDA provided a total of $1,005,555 in flood
assistance.

- This assistance included $25,000 provided through USAID/New Delhi to the
Prime Minister's National Disaster Relief Fund to assist in meeting the
immediate needs of flood-affected families.

- Subsequently, USAID/OFDA provided $980,555 to CARE and CRS for the
provision of emergency food, temporary shelter, and seeds to approximately
70,000 flood-affected families.


USG Funding
USG Agency
Implementing Partner
Type of Assistance
Amount

USAID/OFDA

Prime Minister's Fund
Immediate relief supplies
$25,000

CARE
Emergency food, shelter, and seeds
$500,075

CRS
Emergency food, shelter, and seeds
$480,480

Total                   $1,005,555



Total USG Funding

                      USAID/OFDA    USAID/FFP          DOD         Total
Floods - West Bengal $ 1,226,740   $2,400,000   $        0   $ 3,626,740
Earthquake           $ 7,429,631   $  800,000   $4,600,000   $12,829,631
Drought              $ 1,255,520   $        0   $        0   $ 1,255,520
Floods - Orissa      $ 1,005,555   $        0   $        0   $ 1,005,555

Total                $10,917,446   $3,200,000   $4,600,000   $18,717,446


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