Gujarat Earthquake - Press Release

31 January 2001

World Food Programme 

arranges airlift of relief supplies for Gujarat

In the worst ever calamity in the last 50 years of Indian history, the killer earthquake in Gujarat has claimed several thousands of lives, injured many more and left countless people homeless. Immediate relief in the form of temporary shelters, medical assistance, food and water are needed for taking care of the victims of this disaster. Responding to this critical situation, the World Food Programme (WFP) is organizing airlifts of essential items such as health kits, blankets, body bags, community kitchen sets, generators and pick-axes on behalf of the United Nations Humanitarian Response, OCHA, WHO and the Italian Government. These items will be helpful in the immediate relief operations. The first flight is expected to land at Bhuj at 15:00 hrs on 31 January 2001. One expert of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and two WFP logistics experts will accompany the flight. The WFP logistics experts will stay back at Bhuj till the last WFP relief aircraft arrives. A representative of WFP will receive the cargo and will hand over to the local authorities for transportation to Rapar.

A second flight is due to arrive on 2 February 2001, which will carry 165 large multipurpose tents and 2400 blankets provided by OCHA. These tents are specially designed for such situations and would be very useful for the large number of families sleeping in the open.

World Food Programme

53, Jor Bagh, New Delhi - 110003

India

Tel:91-11-4694381-84, Fax:91-11-4627109

Contact:

usha.baghare@wfp.org