Appeal

India

Relief and rehabilitation following Tamil Nadu Cyclone Nisha - ASIN85

Appeal Target: US$ 437, 957

Geneva, 23 December 2008

The state of Tamil Nadu was hit by cyclonic storm "Nisha" in South India since the 26 November 2008. Under its influence, heavy rains lashed coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, taking the death toll above 177. More than 552,000 hectares of crops in the Cauvery delta districts were submerged. About 100 boats and more than 50,890 houses have been damaged.

Authorities have evacuated and put up 101,940 persons in 2,099 relief centres. These people have been evacuated from coastal hamlets and low-lying areas in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, and Tiruarur. Nagapattinam district having borne the brunt of several cyclone in the past had to evacuate 24,000 people.

ACT members Lutheran World Service - India (LWSI), United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) and Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) have responded to the crisis, with funds from the RRF. LWF is providing relief assistance for 2,00 families in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts; UELCI is supporting 3,000 families in 20 villages of the Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Trichy and Kanyakumari Districts; CASA has provided relief for 20,500 families through the provision of cooked food.

CASA and LWSI plan to extend the response with relief and rehabilitation activities in the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tranquebar, Mayiladuthurai, and Chennai.

CASA is planning to distribute to 4,000 affected families dry rations, clothing, utensils and blankets and plastic sheets within a month. LWSI plans to provide 2,000 families with sleeping materials hygiene kits, temporary shelter material for immediate relief. LWSI also plans to help rehabilitate houses of 1,500 families with traditional house building / repair materials and supply sanitation materials to 28 villages. In addition, UELCI is considering joining the appeal at a later stage.

Members will coordinate their responses in order to avoid duplication and enhance the effectiveness of the intervention with a joint monitoring exercise.

Project Completion Date:

CASA: 31 January 2009

LWSI: 23 June 2009

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR THE FULL APPEAL TEXTS AND BUDGETS (PDF FILE), KINDLY VISIT THE ACT SITE. THANK YOU. ________________________________________________________________________________________

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar

Account Number - 240-432629.60A

IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro

Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z

IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG

8, rue du Rhône

P.O. Box 2600

1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND

Swift address: UBSWCHZH80A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer, Michelle Yonetani (myo@act-intl.org), of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

(ends)

ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.