Red Cross focuses on disaster preparedness one year after Gujarat earthquake
24 January 2002

24 January 2002 - On the anniversary of the devastating earthquake that killed 20,000 people in the Indian state of Gujarat, the Indian Red Cross is building a national disaster preparedness network to enhance its response to future large-scale humanitarian tragedies.

In Gujarat, the Red Cross is running a three year integrated rehabilitation operation which includes the construction of a 200-bed hospital in Bhuj town and the rebuilding of 200 village anganwadis (kindergartens) and other basic health facilities. A housing project is well underway and over 300 small reservoirs have been completed as part of a programme to restore traditional water harvesting systems. "Our long term focus is not only on the physical reconstruction of Gujarat. We are working to empower vulnerable communities so that they can cope better if such a disaster strikes again", says Dr. Vimala Ramalingam, Secretary General of the Indian Red Cross.

India is the second most disaster prone country in the world and the Red Cross operation in Gujarat is linked to a countrywide initiative aimed at reducing vulnerability in a country where millions are affected each year by seasonal floods alone. In Gujarat a network of community health workers is being established whose role is to carry out health education and First Aid training with communities living in hazard prone regions of the state.

A national disaster response plan is being been drawn up with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and local Indian Red Cross branches. In March a national disaster management centre will open at the Indian Red Cross headquarters in New Delhi. A national emergency health response unit is also being set up and since the earthquake last year, additional emergency stocks of relief materials and equipment have been pre-positioned at eight regional warehouses around India in readiness for future disasters. The strengthening of Indian Red Cross branches is a key component of the programme.

"The earthquake highlights how important it is to work to build up our own disaster response capacity as well as the capacity of local communities. When disasters strike, most lives are saved by the affected people themselves before outside help arrives", says Bob McKerrow, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation in South Asia. "It is also critical that a wide range of actors play a part in disaster preparedness including leading industries. Disregard for building codes can turn high-rise buildings into death traps in the event of an earthquake," Mr. McKerrow adds.

Since the earthquake, some 40 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world have contributed over 36 million US dollars to appeals launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in support of the Indian Red Cross Society operation

Notes for editors:

A broadcast quality 4 minute video news release highlighting the current humanitarian situation is available. High resolution photographs are also available electronically

The Indian Red Cross and International Federation will be holding a press briefing at the Red Cross compound in Lalan College, Bhuj on Jan 24th at 12:00 hrs.

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

In Gujurat - Pamela Davie, tel: "91 98 253 160 32

In Delhi - Patrick Fuller, tel: 91 +98 100 997 94

In Geneva - Jette Soerensen, tel:. +41 22 730 43 74

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.