MCC provides food in eastern India flood zone

Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, 3 August 2001

AKRON, Pa. -- Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is providing $76,300 Cdn./$50,000 U.S. in food relief for 12,000 families affected by flooding in eastern India. Two weeks of heavy monsoon rains in July caused severe flooding in the state of Orissa, destroying the homes of more than 1 million people. MCC's donation will purchase dry ration kits, which include rice, lentils, oil, salt, matches and candles. The kits will be assembled and distributed through the Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), the relief agency of the Indian Council of Churches. Through contributions from other organizations, CASA will supply the families with tarpaulins, cooking utensils and clothing.

MCC expects further requests for aid from partner organizations in India.

"These are the same villages and people who were hit in 1999 by a super cyclone," reported David Gerber, MCC India country co-representative, from Calcutta.

"Local news reports are quite pessimistic regarding anticipated rainfall and potential for more flooding -- we only hope the predictions are wrong."

To send donations please call toll free in Canada, (888) 622-6337, or in the United States (888) 563-4676.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org