asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have made to the recent cyclone in Orissa; in what form; and with the help of which United Kingdom and Indian nongovernmental organisations. [HL1157]
In the immediate aftermath of the cyclones which devastated Orissa in October 1999, the British Government provided more than £3 million as emergency assistance. This was channelled through non-governmental and UN organisations and used primarily for the purchase of food, clothing and shelter materials. Details of the emergency assistance are listed below:
| Agency | Activity | Amount |
| International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (through British Red Cross Society) | To meet the immediate needs of the victims of the cyclone, including the provision of food, shelter materials, clothing etc | £250,000 |
| World Vision | To provide 20,000 of the worst affected families with commodities for basic survival | £200,000 |
| Y Care International | To provide emergency survival kits to 6,000 people in the "most affected" category | £17,000 |
| Oxfam | To be part of a co-ordinated relief effort providing food and non-food items plus water and sanitation provision | £300,000 |
| Care International | To assist the survivors of the initial impact of the cyclone who are now vulnerable to the elements, poor nutrition and illness | £250,000 |
Agency
| Activity
| Amount
|
| World Food Programme | Provision of food to 60,000 vulnerable households | £300,000 |
| Save the Children | To provide immediate relief needs for 100,000 people in Puri district (food, blankets, shelter materials) | £478,368 |
| CARE | To provide shelter materials and blankets | £150,000 |
| Christian Aid | Provision of shelter material and clothing for cyclone victims | £330,000 |
| To assist vulnerable families with their immediate food, clothing, medical and shelter needs (networking with Gram Vikas, a local NGO) | £200,000 | |
| HelpAge International | To assist older and more vulnerable victims by the provision of shelter materials, blankets and food | £100,000 |
| Organisation of Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) | To assist OCHA's co-ordination efforts | £50,000 |
| UNICEF | To provide immediate humanitarian needs, including relief and welfare, restoration of basic social services | £500,000 |
| Miscellaneous expenses | Assessment mission to Orissa | £25,000 |
| Total Expenditure | £3,150,368 |
Following the completion of the emergency phase, the Government plan to spend more than £23 million over the next six months to help the Government of Orissa meet its rehabilitation needs. This assistance will focus primarily on health, education and rural livelihoods. The funds earmarked for health (more than £3 million) are being disbursed partly through UNICEF, partly through Médecins Sans Frontières. The education rehabilitation support (about £4 million) is being channelled mainly through UNICEF. The £16 million planned for rural livelihoods support will be disbursed partly through local non government organisations and partly through the state government.
In addition, DfID is also developing plans for longer-term rehabilitation support. DfID is considering support for rebuilding primary schools and health centres which were destroyed, to be funded through the Government of Orissa.