Emergency relief for cyclone victims in Bangladesh and India
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     The Government has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved four grants from the Disaster Relief Fund totalling $5.3 million to two relief agencies to undertake relief projects for cyclone victims in Bangladesh and India.

     Announcing the grants today (June 24), a Government spokesman said that the committee hoped the four grants would help provide relief to cyclone victims in Bangladesh and India. Details of these grants are as follows:

* $1 million to Oxfam Hong Kong for providing relief to victims in Bangladesh;
* $1.3 million to Oxfam Hong Kong for providing relief to victims in India;
* $1.5 million to World Vision Hong Kong for providing relief to victims in Bangladesh; and
* $1.5 million to World Vision Hong Kong for providing relief to victims in India.

     "To ensure that the money will be used for the designated purposes, the two relief agencies have been asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed," the spokesman said.

     The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the Government on the policy and practices regarding the disbursement of funds for disaster relief, advising on specific amounts to recipients, and monitoring the use of grants.

     The Committee is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Members include Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, Mr V Nee Yeh, Mrs Sophie Leung Lau Yau-fun, Mr Wong Sing-chi, Mr Victor Lo Chung-wing, Mr Irving Koo Yee-yin, Mrs Alice Chong Yuk Tak-fun, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare.

Ends/Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:17

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