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World Bank Releases $400 Million in First Phase of Emergency Assistance for Gujarat
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NEW DELHI, March 30, 2001 -- The US$400 million first phase of the World Bank's emergency earthquake assistance to Gujarat is now formally available with an agreement signed in New Delhi today. Edwin Lim, Country Director, India, signed on behalf of the World Bank and Dr. Adarsh Kishore, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India. G. Subba Rao, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, signed on behalf of the Government of Gujarat.
In order to provide rapid support, this financial assistance package has been established by reallocating funds from 12 existing World Bank-financed projects. Where required, supplementary allocations will be made for these projects at the earliest.
The World Bank will contribute to immediate and short-term financing needs for housing, rubble removal, temporary shelter, education, health, small earthen dams and local irrigation, state roads and bridges, public buildings, capacity building for local communities, and establishment of disaster management capacity in the state. The Government of Gujarat will be able to use part of this money retroactively to finance agreed expenditures incurred since January 26 when the earthquake struck.
The Bank is working on the second phase of its assistance to Gujarat for earthquake reconstruction, to be made available in about six months. This would provide further support to the above sectors over the short and medium-term. The program, in both phases, will support closely integrated efforts of communities, Government, non-government organizations and the private sector. Community based self-help approaches are to be emphasized.
"We recognize the immediate need for rapid financial support to help build momentum for this mammoth task of rebuilding communities in the affected areas of Gujarat," sayRobert Maurer and Keith Oblitas, co-task leaders of the project. "Additional World Bank support will be provided in the coming months ."
Reconstruction assistance is based on the recent damage and needs assessment jointly conducted by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
The Gujarat earthquake of January 26, 2001 resulted in over 20,000 casualties and many more injuries. The people and Government of Gujarat now face a massive reconstruction challenge ranging from infrastructure to social services and beyond.
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