Rapid Response Payment Request No. 05/2009

Funds Sent To: Lutheran World Service India

Amount Sent: US$ 54,082

Date: 9 April 2009

Details of Response

Emergency: Orissa Tornado

Date of Emergency: 31 March 2009

Implementing Member(s): Lutheran World Service India

DETAILS OF THE EMERGENCY: A "tornado" or more appropriately "dust devil" unleashed its fury on 31st March in Kendrapara district in the State of Orissa. At about 4 pm, Rajkonika block in Kendrapara district experienced the devastating power of the dust devil which uprooted trees and houses destroying almost everything in its path, leaving behind a trail of massive destruction. Villagers mourn "it looked like the trunk of an elephant touching the ground and approaching our village at high speed". The spiraling huge black cloud sucked up everything into its vortex; the accompanying hailstorm destroyed what the cloud left behind. These communities are not strangers to natural disasters- floods and cyclones routinely destroy lives and livelihoods every year. But this was an unusual weather extreme for which the communities were totally unprepared. This opens yet another new chapter in the disaster history of these impoverished rural communities.

The disaster has completely destroyed fifteen villages, affected more than 4500 families, killed ten people (unofficial death estimate is more than 70) and injured hundreds of people. According to current official estimates close to 2000 houses have been completely destroyed. Winds at speeds exceeding 200 kilometer per hour ripped off concrete roofs of schools, hospitals and government buildings and flung them at distance of 25 to 30 feet; uprooted electric poles, snapped telephone and electric wires. Most rural poor in the region live in houses built of bamboos and thatches and such houses have completely collapsed. The winds and the hailstorm destroyed standing crops, drinking water sources, caused massive destruction to other village infrastructure and means of livelihood. Government agencies and NGOs are continuing search and rescue operations. Survivors have been shifted to safer places, in schools or other office buildings in nearby villages. 80% of the affected population continue to live in makeshift shelters close to their destroyed/damaged houses. Injured people have been admitted to hospitals. The local hospital buildings were damaged, yet are providing medical care to the injured. Proper medical care is a serious problem. Animal carcasses and debris were scattered all over the area exacerbating the vulnerability of the people. There has been large scale displacement of people from the area; whereabouts of many people are not known. Stored food grains and other household items have been destroyed or damaged. Non food items like cooking utensils, firewood, clothes, books and other household resources have been damaged. Availability of and access to safe water is a serious problem. Affected communities and bereaved families are traumatized. A crisis for food and water is anticipated. Children, women and the aged without care givers would be the most vulnerable. The schools situated in the worst affected villages were fully damaged. Students cannot return to schools in the immediate future. The continuation of education for school children is uncertain. Farmers have lost crops and cattle; those engaged in non farm activities have lost their means of livelihood. Access to livelihood assets will be one of the key concerns in the post disaster situation.

Relief package has been announced by the State Government but may not materialize immediately. Since elections to state legislative assembly and national parliament are due within the next one month, a model Code of Conduct is in place, restricting an immediate humanitarian response by the state. Competing political parties, vying for votes, are expected to disrupt operations by non governmental organizations. The situation is serious and immediate actions are required to protect people from severe consequences.

ACTIONS TO DATE, AND EMERGENCY NEEDS: LWS India Disaster Damage and Need Assessment team visited the area 1st of April. The team met with the survivors, consulted village leaders, local Government officials and other local actors. The assessment team observed the ground situation and collected information regarding the key problems such as water and sanitation, food, shelter, livelihood, education and health. The LWS team in the region is also coordinating with Inter Agency Group members for coordinated response. Rajkonika is one of the operational areas of LWSI Disaster Preparedness Project. Disaster Management Teams (DMTs) formed and supported by LWSI in the year 2002-03 were actively involved in search, rescue and first aid and referred cases to nearby hospitals. Seventeen Disaster Management Teams are involved in assisting the relief operations undertaken by local government agencies. DMTs are collecting safe drinking water from different sources and are distributing to the affected population. LWSI promoted DMTs from outside the disaster zone are working to reach relief to the DMTs in the affected area. The DMTs have raised Rs. 8650 (USD 185) locally to scale up intervention by local government agencies. The DMTs have limited resource to assist the affected people on a large scale.

PROPOSED EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

- OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

To provide life-saving and life-sustaining assistance to 2500 families affected by tornado in Rajkonika Block of Kendrapara district in Orissa.

The following assistance would be rendered:

• Staple food packet consisting of Rice, Lentil and cooking Oil for 7 days

• Non food items like polythene sheets for temporary shelter and Mosquito nets.

Target Populations:

2500 tornado affected families from five severely affected villages of Rajkonika Block in Kendrapara district of Orissa. Assisted population would be approximately 11500 (male 5750 and female 5750). Approximate age wise breakup percentage of the targeted families will be under 6 :11%, 6 -17: 24%, 18 - 65: 45% and above 65: 20% Implementation of the project will be carried out with appropriate response mechanism (planning and monitoring) by strictly abiding to the International Humanitarian Code of Conduct. Assistance will be provided to the affected people regardless of race, religion, creed and caste. Efforts will be made to avoid discrimination during beneficiary selection.

(For the detailed table, kindly visit the ACT site, thank you.)

Based on the latest need assessment carried out by the team, LWSI proposes to provide each family with staple food packet consisting of 14 kg rice, 2 kg lentils, & 1 litre of edible oil. In addition, one family size Mosquito net and one HDPE Polythene sheet will also be provided to the most severely affected families.

Implementation Methodology:

Kendrapara is one of the operational districts of LWSI Disaster Preparedness Project. LWS India staff members are already present in the district. The existing LWS India team will implement the action, once the request is approved from ACT CO. The relief recipient families are being identified so that the distribution can begin immediately on receipt of the assurance from ACT CO. LWSI is encouraging the Community Based Disaster Management Taskforce Team members trained by the project to take the lead to organize rapid relief operations in the villages.

LWSI is communicating with District Collector, Sub Divisional Officers and Inter Agency Group members in Orissa.

Coordination:

LWSI is a member of the Inter Agency Group (IAG) which is a consortium of international humanitarian agencies working in Orissa. More than one IAG meeting has taken place to chart out a course of action to respond to this crisis. LWSI has also been in contact with other ACT members CASA and UELCI to know about their plans.

Communication:

The experienced staffs of LWSI at the field are responsible to communicate the information related to the emergency and the situation of the people during and after the incident. The information gathered from the operational areas will be forwarded to the concerned persons at Head Office. At Head Office, the information received is collated and shared with ACT CO and the donors.

Planned Implementation period:

The proposed activities are planned to be initiated as soon as approval is received from ACT CO. The activities will be implemented within one month and reports shared with ACT CO within one month from the completion of activities.

BUDGET: US$ 54,082

(For the detailed budget, kindly visit the ACT site, thank you.)

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$ 54,082 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment. Should there be an appeal for this emergency, the RRF payment will be considered as an advance.

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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.