Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers today flagged off relief supplies for Uttarakhand and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh. The flag off function was held at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi. Along with blankets, the supplies to Uttarakhand consist of mosquito nets, kitchen sets, tents and essential medicines from Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
While flagging off the supplies Dr. Mandaviya said, “Red Cross assists the most vulnerable and needy in times of disasters and other crisis situations”. He added that people affected by severe flooding are already being assisted by the local Red Cross branches. The national headquarters is supplementing their efforts by sending fresh supplies.
Highlighting that Prepositioning is the backbone of disaster management, the Union Health Minister said that prepositioning of relief items is under process for use by vulnerable states which consists of, among other items, about one lakh blankets, one lakh hygiene kits, one lakh tarpaulins and 75,000 kitchen sets.
The Union Health Minister further stated that recent landslides and flash floods in Uttarakhand have severely affected the state. “To supplement the efforts of the State Government, three truck loads of relief supplies have been sent to Uttarakhand. In addition, Ministry of Health has also sent medicines for the suffering population. Hilly states experience severe cold in the winter months. The blankets are being pre positioned so that in times of any crisis, people affected can be supported immediately”, he added.