Press release from Christian Aid

The Indian state of Orissa, which, a year ago was recovering from a cyclone and massive flooding, is now in the midst of the worse drought for ten years, says Christian Aid.

Tom Palakudiyil, Christian Aid’s representative in Delhi, said: “Around 27 million people – out of a population of 32 million – have already been affected and 80 per cent of this year’s food crop has been destroyed. Villagers’ food stocks have all but run out and people are beginning to migrate to other states. The situation is bound to worsen in the coming months.”

The drought and famine is not limited to Orissa alone. Mr Palakudiyil said: “The situation in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are even worse. The outlook for the summer is grim. If cyclone and floods in eastern Orissa kept Christian Aid and our partners busy in 2000, it appears that 2001 is the turn of drought in western Orissa.”