Red Cross announce major rehabilitation package for Gujurat
22 March 2001

Today the Indian Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies revealed their plans for future recovery and rehabilitation efforts in earthquake affected Gujurat. Following a three day partnership meeting with international donors, the Red Cross will now begin implementing a large scale programme intended to address some of the medium and long term humanitarian needs in the region.

The rehabilitation programme is based on the findings of a multi-disciplinary 11 person assessment team who have spent the past three weeks in India, determining the way forward for the Red Cross operation. The main findings of the team revealed that over the past two months there has been uneven coverage by organisations who were providing relief assistance to the earthquake affected population and that shelter is still the priority need for people who have lost their homes. Another priority is the need to restore and strengthen water supply systems to communities affected by both the drought and the earthquake. The team also found that the health and education infrastructure had been severely damaged and that the potential threat to public health remained high, particularly in urban areas.

Based on these findings a variety of innovative programmes in relief/recovery, health, construction, water and sanitation and disaster preparedness will be implemented. At the same time the Indian Red Cross infrastructure and volunteer base in Gujurat will be strengthened. All future programmes will adopt specific strategies to reach the most vulnerable communities, particularly those in marginalised groups including women and the elderly.

"To establish the next phase of our operation it is vital that we involve local communities in the design and implementation of projects. We must turn this tragedy into an opportunity that uses innovative approaches towards community capacity building and livelihood growth," explained Dr. Vimala Ramalingam, Secretary General of the Indian Red Cross.

In the coming weeks, the Red Cross operation will continue to provide shelter material to vulnerable communities who have yet to receive assistance in pockets of Bhuj, Bhachau, Rapar and in some rural villages. Outstanding relief needs will continue to be assessed particularly in view of the approaching monsoon.

Longer term shelter needs will be addressed by providing communities with building materials for the construction of housing. Advice on best practice for building design will also be provided. In some areas permanent school structures will be rebuilt together with Primary Health Care centres and sub-centres as well as pre-school centres at community level. The Red Cross will also contribute in re-establishing and improving access to clean water and basic sanitation in these facilities.

To facilitate the establishment of an active volunteer base in the region, 'Red Cross Rooms' will be created as part of these structures for subsequent public health and youth activities. A number of community-level health education and awareness programmes will be initiated, focusing particularly on family and reproductive health, community-based first aid, health advocacy, peer-led schools health activities and support to carers of dependent relatives. The Indian Red Cross will be supported in creating measures to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases in the short term, in expanding an existing orthopaedic workshop in Ahmedabad to provide amputees with prosthesis, in providing psychological support services, and in mobilising blood donation.

To mitigate the impact of the drought in some areas that have also been affected by the earthquake, the Red Cross will consider repairing damaged mains water systems and will implement projects to improve water collection and harvesting facilities in rural villages.

As assessments for the rehabilitation phase continue, the Red Cross will adopt an integrated approach to future programme planning, particularly in the cross-referral of needs and services. While these interventions will focus on Gujarat, the earthquake is also an opportunity to increase the capacity of the Indian Red Cross to respond to future disasters. Plans are already in place to establish a Disaster Preparedness and Response Department within the Indian Red Cross NHQ.

"In the past four years the same people in Kutch have been struck by a cyclone, drought and now the earthquake. Our future plans will bring long term benefits to these people and will enable the Red Cross to develop a really effective disaster management system in India", said Bob McKerrow, head of the International Federation's South Asia regional delegation.

Notes to Editors: Digital stills and video footage of the Red Cross operation in Gujurat is available on request.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

In Delhi :
Patrick Fuller, Regional Information delegate Tel : +91 981 0099 794
Bijoy Patro, Information Officer Tel. +981 028 4196

In Geneva :
Solveig Olafsdottir, Information Officer Tel : +41 22 730 4296 / +41 79 416 3881

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.