Gujarat Earthquake - Media Coverage

5 February 2001, Times of India, New Delhi, India

NEW DELHI: A United Nations team that visited the quake-hit areas of Gujarat on Sunday said the situation there was slowly beginning to stabilise with food and medical supplies reaching the farthest villages.

A three-member team from the UN Disaster and Coordination team (UNDAC), along with World Health Organisation (WHO) health specialists, who have assessed the situation in Bhuj, said the "situation is slowly beginning to stabilise."

However, the relief assistance would continue from the UN agencies in the post-quake period and the agencies are at present assessing the requirements.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has accelerated its initiatives in empowerment of women through NGOs, a UN release said.

UNDP is providing immediate financial resources to NGOs like Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) and Mahila Vikas Sangthan to step up relief operations specially for housing materials and survival kits.

The World Food Programme (WFP) team in Bhuj has already brought in two special planes for relief material and a third plane with supplies and specialists to assess food needs is expected very soon, the release said.

WHO, with its 12 member medical team in Bhuj, has undertaken disease surveillance in the affected areas to ensure early warning and prevent outbreak of epidemics. (PTI)

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