§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has(a) pledged and (b) contributed to emergency relief programmes for victims of the Orissa Floods in India; and if he will make a statement. [136312]
Mr. Gareth ThomasDFID did not receive any request for assistance from the Government of Orissa, nor any NGO for the floods in year 2003. However, Care India utilised £25,000 for flood relief from an on-going DFID supported drought relief project of £1.5 million. It was encouraging to note that Government of Orissa was well equipped and organised to manage the flood relief.
In 2001 DFID contributed £800,000 for flood relief through UNDP and International NGOs. The relief focused on two key areas: agriculture and a combination of cash/food-for-work programmes.