Thanks to the generous support of the Swiss Embassy in India, Usthi was able to carry out a second
emergency relief operation. Last week, food parcels will be distributed to over 700 families at the sites of
the two Usthi schools Ananda and Penthakata.
While the emergency relief operation in Hyderabad has been completed, the situation in other parts of
India is worsening as the lockdown continues or has been partially reimposed. The families of the two
Usthi school locations Hudarait and Pentakatha are severely affected and in need of support. Cyclone
Amphan, which ravaged several states in mid-May, has put additional pressure on the situation of the
local population.
According to current information, a return to school operation is expected at the end of July 2020 at the
earliest. The decision on this is the responsibility of the local administration. While a warm lunch is
guaranteed for the school children, this is no longer the case due to school closures and many families
can hardly make ends meet.
After Usthi has already successfully carried out an emergency relief campaign in Hyderabad, the Swiss
Embassy is now supporting Usthi to carry out a second campaign for the families of schoolchildren in West
Bengal and Odisha. Usthi was distributing food to the families affected in order to improve the immediate
emergency situation. The distribution was carried out by local school staff. The food packages contain
rice, pulses, potatoes and oil. In order to provide for the children during school closures, distribution was
made to 280 families in Ananda and 450 families in Pentakatha.
Usthi would like to thank the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi for financing this emergency relief operation and
hopes that school operations can be resumed soon.