EMERGENCY

RELIEF SUPPORT REQUIRED

(Brief note on the current situation of the population affected by the earthquake in the northern Gujarat.

SEWA Organization

Ahmedabad, 28 January 2001

The purpose of this expedited brief note is to address the critical situation that has tragically arisen in the state of Gujarat India, regarding the major earthquake, 7.9 on the Richter scale, centered near the city of Bhuj, on the morning of 26 January 2001.

The most severely effected districts in Gujarat are:

1. Kutch

2. Patan

3. Surendranagar

4. Ahmedabad

Kutch , of course, has sustained heavier losses of people and property – with the epicenter 20 km from city which is the main population center in the district.

The intensity of the earthquake in Ahmedabad city was 6.9 on the Richter scale, with a duration of 1.5 minutes.

The note describes the first hand experience collected by SEWA teams, based in their site field visits to all the above affected areas.

(1) Ahmedabad: in the city, an estimated 100 buildings, with more than 4,000 households have been completely destroyed. In all, more than 20,000 have been affected, with an estimated 600 dead and 10,000 injured in the city.

In addition, the city has thus far experienced 188 after shocks, leaving the populace in a justifiably agitated state. Residents have vacated their households, preferring the safety of the streets and open areas. Several buildings are partially damaged (more than 75% structural damage), and not fit any more for occupancy. Therefore, most of the residents of an additional 200 buildings are either on the street or have sought temporary shelter elsewhere.

The casualty rate is very high, as rescues were often possible only after 8 to 24 hours after the quake, with efforts underway with limited resources. The hospitals are running at full capacity, with an equally acute and immediate need for on-site medical camps.

(2) Northern Gujarat : in Bhuj and the rural areas of northern Gujarat are undoubtedly the worst affected areas, however, information from these isolated areas is limited. The following areas have been hit hardest:

• In Kutch district, the talukas (blocks) more affected are: Bhuj, Lakhpat, Naliya, Abdasa; Rapar and Bhachau

• In Surrendranagar district, three talukas which require also urgent rescue operations are Dhangadra, Halvad and Dashada (Paladi).

• In Patan district, Santalpur and Radhanpur talukas are the most affected.

According the information collected by the SEWA’s members and the governmental agencies, the current situation is as presented hereafter:

In Bhuj city, it has been reported that 90% of the buildings have been destroyed and more than 100,000 people have been affected; 10,000 killed and 25,000 injured.

Some reports from rural areas have come in, estimating damage to houses to be in excess of 70,000, varying from minor to severe. Estimates also include 10,000 injured and 30,000 in need of shelter. Hundred or thousand of people remained trapped beneath the rubble.

There is also a severe shortage of heavy equipment, cranes, bull-dozers, etc…, to remove debris and conduct rescue activities, as well as sniffer dogs for rescue operations.

In Surendranagar district, SEWA team visited more than 40 villages in Dhangadhra and Halvad talukas. In each village about 90 % of the houses- approximately around 10,000 houses - have been completely damaged and erased to the ground. The water pipelines have been damaged.

The salt pans in the desert have been damaged and the bore wells and the water pumps are buried in earth, due to caving in the earth. In the fields the wells and pump engines have all caved in and are completely buried.

In the desert there is continuous oozing of lava (red and black hot liquid).

1. Road network and transportation

The Surajbari bridge that connected the Kutch region with the central States of Gujarat has collapsed. The only way now to reach the Bhuj city is to go by Patan, Radhanpur Rapar and then Bhuj. It takes approximately 12 hrs.

The first aid teams, which reach Bhuj yesterday, have hired the few vehicles available in the area. Today, we are facing serous problems since we are short in cars.

1. Airstrip facilities

The only operating airstrips in the region are in Ahmedabad and the military airstrip in Bhuj. Only private helicopters are being used to reach many of the affected areas, with the permission of the government of Gujarat.

1. Telecom and electricity

Yesterday, the Bhuj city and the rural villages were completely cut off, since telecommunications have not yet been restored. Today, part of the telecommunication network is working. There is need for some Mobile telephones to keep in constant touch with the updated need.

The electricity networking has been hardly affected in all the northern Gujarat and has not yet been restored in Bhuj.

1. Medical facilities

In Bhuj, the civil hospital has collapsed, only the military hospital is operational, working in open area. Hundred or thousand of injured people have not yet been attended. They present serious injuries to be trapped in the debris. Surgeons are operating on them round the clock.

A team of twenty Indian doctors reached Bhuj yesterday and has left today for Radhanpur to provide assistance in the district.

In Radhanpur town alone an estimated 5000 injured need treatment. The Referral Hospital with 100-bed capacity is full, the private Bhansali Trust Hospital with 50 beds is running beyond its capacity. The patients are now being shifted to Government school, where about 700 people are being treated. The rest are on the streets.

There is need for immediate medical treatment and as well as to open temporary medical camps with First Aid and surgical facilities.

1. Food and water supplies

Food and water are still not available. According to Ms Mona Dave SEWA’s co-ordinator of Kutch, who is currently in Bhuj, the Bhuj population spent its second night in the street without receiving any water and food supply. Hence there is immediate need for water supply in cans and food.

1. Food aid and drinking water ( 70,000 families)

2. Shelter material, tents and blankets (70,000 beneficiaries)

3. Medical aid (equipment, medical team and drugs)

4. Preventive materials in anticipation of epidemic outbreak (disinfectants and vaccinations)

5. Preparedness counseling

6. Cars and trucks hiring

7. Communication equipment- wireless and mobile phones

As an organization with an extensive network of experienced coordinators and organizers, SEWA has an active base in all of the above-mentioned areas. SEWA teams have already been dispatched in the field, and have been there since the day of the event.

The teams are currently in villages making house to house surveys of the loss and damages. It is estimated that at least 70,000 households have suffered loss of home or death, and ultimately loss of work and wages.

SEWA is immediately mobilising 100 kg of dry snacks and 100 tonnes of raw khichdi ( mixture of rice and dal), as well as about 1000 blankets and 1000 packets of glucose powder.

Ms Mona Dave, co-ordinator of Kutch district has reached yesterday the city of Bhuj. She left with a mobile phone in order to be able to give a feedback to the SEWA headquarter on a regular basis.

3 teams of organisers have gone to the affected districts:

• 10 organisers has left for Bhuj,

• 10 for Radhanpur

• 7 for Surendranagar .

In total, 200 SEWA volunteers, in more than 20 teams, have been in action in the above-mentioned districts, talukas, and Ahmedabad city. Most of the team have one English speaker and four Hindi speakers in the group, and are intimately familiar with the affected communities and the region.

In order to increase the capacity of the SEWA team in the rescue and relief operation financial support is required, mainly to support the following expenditure:

• Cost of travel and transport

• Cost of relief personnel