Food
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After the Mumbai Floods...
After the Orisai Cyclone
Rescue operations were initially hampered because of difficulties in reaching the affected areas, but relief supplies from different parts of India are now arriving although some of the more remote areas are still being investigated. Helicopters are now in operation, and the railway network is also being used for the operation. The Food Corporation of India is sending 2,200 metric tonnes of rice from Calcutta to Balasore, bleaching powder, and halogen water purification tablets are also being sent to Bhubaneshwar and Paradip from Delhi.
Red Cross/Red Crescent Action
Red Cross teams were in the field, many still on assignment in response to the cyclone. Red Cross volunteers assisted the evacuation effort and are helping to distribute emergency food, shelter material and clothing. The Indian Red Cross immediately sent emergency buffer stocks, including blankets, emergency rations, assorted clothing, cloth sheeting, plastic sheeting and water purification tablets, from its warehouse in Calcutta. In total there are 21 shelters in the most affected areas -- each shelter can accommodate between 1,500 and 2,000 people, with some even exceeding these numbers. The distribution of these shelters is as follows: 9 in Kendrapara, 5 in Bhadrak, 3 in Jagatsinghpur, 3 in Puri, and 1 in Baleshwar.
The Federation immediately released CHF 200,000 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) for the operation. This money has already been spent mostly on food items. A further amount has now been released based on the first pledged donations. The Headquarters of the Indian Red Cross had released the following relief materials to meet the immediate and ongoing needs
1. Blankets 1,000 units
2. Emergency food ration 2,000 Kgs.
3. Assorted clothing 4,000 Kgs.
4. Cloth sheeting 2,000 metres
5. Plastic sheeting 9,600 sq. metres
6. Calcium hypocloride (water purification)500 Kgs. (for an initial 4.5 million litres of water).