Church agencies in India brace for rehabilitation after Cyclone Phailin
16 Oct. 2013: Church charities in India are preparing for a massive relief work after
Cyclone Phailin left nearly 9 million people affected along the eastern coast of the
country. "On the ground, there is total devastation. But, I am glad that the government
did an excellent job with the massive evacuation that saved many lives," said John
Shumlansky, country representative in India for the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief
Service,, CRS Shumlansky told Catholic News Service – CNS, on Tuesday from eastern
Orissa state that the challenges ahead are too many, with houses blown away, buildings
damaged and farms under water. Phailin hit India's east coast Oct. 12 with winds
of up to 120 miles per hour, devastating the coastal areas of Orissa and Andhra
Pradesh states. Only about two dozen people were killed, mostly by falling trees
because nearly 1 million people were evacuated by the government ahead of the cyclone.
Shumlansky said "The people need to be helped to rebuild their homes and lives, and
emergency relief including shelter material was distributed to 180 families.The immediate
target he added is to reach out to 10,000 families with aid, including cash grants
to help them buy essential items. Antony Chetri, relief work coordinator for Caritas
India, told CNS that the Caritas network would provide shelter material like tarps
for most needy families. Meanwhile, Babita Allick, team leader of the disaster management
wing of Caritas India, told CNS that it has released $16,500 for emergency relief
and assessment work for the dioceses of Berhampur and Balasore. An Orissa state
official said more than 14,500 villages in 12 districts were affected, with 234,000
houses damaged in Orissa state. More than 1,200 acres of crops were destroyed by gushing
waters. Source: Cns