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Now, a deluge of aid

United States President Bill Clinton offered 2.1million dollars in emergency food and essential supplies, and the Australian, British, German, Italian, Canadian and Dutch governments pledged help and sent messages of sympathy to the families of victims of Friday's super cyclone that struck the coastal districts of Orissa.

The United Nations announced a financial assistance worth half a million dollars and rushed 120 tonnes of relief material and 50 tonnes of high protein biscuits to Orissa. UN organisations are in close contact with the state and central governments in carrying out relief measures.

''Our hearts go out to the Indian people, and we are prepared to do what we can to help,'' Clinton said in a statement in Oslo, where he is trying to work out a peace deal between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

In a message to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary-General Anders B Johnsson said: ''I wish to convey to you and through you to your Parliament and the people of India, the expression of IPU's solidarity, sympathy and condolences in this tragic situation.''

The British government announced a grant of Rs 20.30 million for the purchase of relief materials through the non-governmental organisations, CARE and Christian Aid.

Expressing grief, Canada's minister for international cooperation Maria Minna announced a contribution of Rs 4.35 million through the Red Cross and Red Crescent towards relief work.

''Our thoughts in these difficult times are with you,'' said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. In a message to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, he expressed his country's desire to help the disaster struck people of Orissa.

The Danish government announced an urgent supply of 10,000 blankets through the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund to those affected.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Italian President Massimo d' Alema sent messages of condolence and grief to the prime minister on behalf of their peoples.

Different states in India also rallied in support of the victims. Gujarat, which was hit by a similar disaster last year, is rushing relief materials in a special train tomorrow, besides an assistance of Rs 20 million. The Kerala and West Bengal governments have donated Rs 5 million each. The Confederation of Indian Industry is sending over 25 tonnes of food through the West Bengal government.

The Madhya Pradesh government has invited tenders for 2,000 tonnes of poha, 30,000 pieces of polythene sheets and 50,000 candles, which will be sent to the affected areas.

Vehicles with relief materials to Orissa will be exempted from excise tax, the government said, even as the All India Federation of Transporters appealed to transporters to rush supplies to Orissa on top priority basis. The AIFT is opening langers (free food stalls) in the affected areas. At a meeting, it decided to suspend all ''other agendas'' and rush relief to the state first.

All BJP ministers in the Union cabinet, members of Parliament and state assemblies and legislative councils pledged one month's salaries towards the cyclone victims.

NGO's like CARE, besides others like the Anand Marga Universal Relief Team, are active in giving succour to the people. The Union ministry of steel has mobilised over Rs 20 million and sent truck loads of essentials to the cyclone-hit areas. The ministry of health and family welfare has rushed doctors and drugs.

Many political parties, groups and individuals also announced help and sympathies to the bereaved families.

An Orissa government release claimed that Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang is working ''round-the-clock'' to oversee the relief works. He has issued orders that anyone disrupting it will be dealt with sternly.

Meanwhile, The World Fellowship of Religions issued an appeal asking people to observe Diwali with austerity in view of the natural calamity. ''The best gift of Diwali would be in the form of relief to the needy at this crucial hour,'' it said.

UNI

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