Plan International USA is preparing to respond to Cyclone Fani, which made landfall at 8 AM local time (10:30 PM EST, Thursday) in the coastal Odisha state of India Friday, May 3. The Government of India has mounted large-scale evacuations of coastal districts, moving more than a million at-risk people to safer areas. Schools have been closed and trains canceled.
Plan International’s local office in India is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local humanitarian agencies. A team of 15 trained humanitarian staff in areas where the cyclone is expected to make landfall is in place and ready to make a quick assessment in order to best respond to the aftermath.
“We have extensive experience in disaster response in India. Our priority is to address the immediate life-savings needs of communities, like clean water, sanitation, and shelter,” said Mohammed Asif, Program Implementation Director, Plan International India. “We focus on the needs of children and girls in particular, as we know from more than 80 years of experience, that they are among the most vulnerable and face specific risks when disasters strike.”
With wind speeds recorded at nearly 125 miles per hour, the cyclone is categorized as an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” by the Indian Met Department and has been building up in the Bay of Bengal.
After Odisha, the cyclone is expected to head towards the state of West Bengal in India and then cross over into Bangladesh.
Plan International has been working in India since 1979, and has been both responding to natural disasters and working with children and their families to prepare for disasters to reduce risks and save lives.
About Plan International USA
Plan International USA is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan believes in the power and potential of every child. Working together with children, young people, supporters, and partners, Plan strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
For more information, please visit PlanUSA.org.
Contact: Bernice Morquette
Senior Media Manager
202.617.2245
Bernice.Morquette@PlanUSA.org
