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Orissa Cyclone Relief 99
AMURT was amongst the first NGOs (non-government organizations) to arrive
at the scene of the devastation caused by the merciless cyclone that hit
Orissa in eastern India on October 29 1999. 65 team members and 300
volunteers responded to the needs of the cyclone survivors throughout
the affected areas.
The day after the cyclone hit, AMURT members were already distributing dry
food (beaten rice, biscuits and milk powder) and basic relief materials to
cyclone survivors in Ganja, Gajapati and Balasore districts. Our teams set
up two feeding centers that provided hot meals to 2,000 people.
Burning of Dead Bodies: Priority Number One
Many of our team members focused on the important task of
cremating dead bodies and burning animal carcasses in the worst-affected
areas of Jagatsingpur and Cuttack districts. This gruesome task was a top
priority to prevent epidemics of cholera and gastro-enteritis. Our
members waded into polluted waters, hold their breath to avoid the
unbearable stench, and drag the bodies back to dry land for burning. They burnt 1618 dead bodies and 1013 carcasses.
AMURTEL, the women's branch of AMURT, ran seven feeding centers at
Bra and Kantapada in Jaipur district and at Tangi-Choudwar in Cuttack
district. They provided hot meals for 5000 cyclone-survivors.
In addition, AMURT set up a joint medical facility with Orissa
Disaster Mitigation Mission in Jagatsingpur district.
Full Orissa documentary
Gujarat Earthquake
relief 2001
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