Helping Hand

India Tsunami Relief update

Tsunami Relief update Feb 2005: Comprehensive Report

A Report from field office in Tamil Nadu, India
Helping Hand is providing Tsunami Relief in India through
Tamil Nadu Relief Committee
REPORT AND PROPOSALS

For the victims of Tsunami

Tsunami furious tides rose to a height of 30 feet, swallowing human beings whoever came under its fold. More than 1000 petty businessmen, fishermen, cheerful children and many on merry Christmas holiday were the first targets. The second targets of another Titanic tide were those who rushed to the Beach to witness the unseen event. Later reports started pouring in about the huge damage the tidal waves caused to life and properties, from different parts of Tamil Nadu. Until now more than 12, 000 people are reported dead in Tamil Nadu only and many more missing.
Our volunteer teams, in Tamil Nadu Zone made a reconnaissance survey in and around Chennai. Visited hospitals, met awe stuck patients and mortuary urgently needed food and medicines were supplied. In addition 3 Groups were organized and sent to different parts of the state. They started the relief activity immediately. Besides they conducted a detail survey of the affected areas, the report of which is tabulated hereunder. A fourth delegation from Kerala Zone reached Colachal and Kaniyakumari districts with a band of enthusiastic and dedicated workers who engaged in relief and restoration work.

Details	1st Group	2nd Group	3rd Group
Districts covered	Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram	Pondicherry, Villupuram and Cuddalore.	Nagapattinam and Karaikal.
Length along the Coast	150 Kms	75 Kms	75 Kms
Length covered in survey	100 Kms	60 Kms	60 Kms
Approx number of Villages	100	50	65
No. of remote and neglected villages visited	20	12	6
Loss of life estimated	1000	3000	6000
Extent of damage seen	All houses, Boats, Catamarans, nets	All houses, Boats, Catamarans, nets	Houses Partially destroyed remaining unfit for occupation, Boats, Catamarans, nets
profession	Fishermen	Fishermen	Fishermen

Important Features

Almost all children and many elders have been washed away in the
affected villages.
Though government officials, Policemen are there on the ground but the numbers seems to be insufficient to reach remoter parts.
Dead bodies in thousands are still trapped under debris and shrubs.
Though NGOs are also active in relief activities but their efforts are concentrated in towns and big villages which have easier connectivity.
Small villages and farther places demand our attention.
Food, clothing and medicines are flooding in. Relief works in real sense, restoration and rehabilitation are the areas need to be focused.

PALNNING & PROPOSALS
Keeping in view of the magnitude of devastation and extreme shortage of relief agencies to reach the victims of “TSUNAMI, following are the emergency relief & rehabilitation relief proposals:

Relief work

Restoration

Activity Rehabilitation projects.

RELIEF WORK

Gigantic tidal waves have hit badly the villages.There exists neither society norfamily. Affected people are taking shelter in camps.To begin a new life from scratch, an emergency “RELIEF KIT” needs to be provided with the following

items.

Mat,	Bed sheet,	Lungi,	Saree,
Towel,	Stove,	Utensils,	Grocery,
Soap,	Paste,	Brush,	Comb,
Hair oil.

Affected villages in adopted Districts   : 215
Number of Kits proposed                      : 3000
Cost of each kit                                     : Rs. 2,000

Total Cost of Relief work                       :  Rs. 60, 00, 000
Duration                      3rd day to 2nd week

RESTORATION ACTIVITY

After completing the 1st phase, the proposed second phase is Restoration of Normalcy in few most remote but selected villages. This activity includes the following:

Cleaning the houses,	Minor repair works,
Paving Macadam roads,	Cleaning debris & shrubs,
Restoring the mosques,	Providing Quran,
Arrangement for salat,	Few bore wells, etc,

Number of villages to be adopted: 20
Cost of restoration/ village : Rs. 2, 00, 000

Total cost of restoration : Rs. 40, 00, 000

Duration : from 3rd week to 7th week.

REHABILITATION PROJECTS

As has been reported above, many villages have been washed away. Loss of properties, loss of business capital, loss of assets like Mechanized boats costing Rs. 12 lakhs each would be a Himalayan task to compensate. Least that could be taken up is to provide shelter by building low cost row houses. Secondly many business men completely shattered by wrath of the ocean could be given a moral boost by providing a token amount of Rs. 50,000 /= so that they could re-invent themselves as businessmen. Thirdly a few fishermen who have lost their boats could be rehabilitated by at least providing them with “Catamaran” costing Rs. 10,000/= each.
On a selective basis the cost of Rehabilitation would be as follows.

Cost of construction of low cost housing having a built up area of 400 sq ft @ Rs.300

100 houses x 400 sq ft x Rs.300 = Rs. 1, 20, 00, 000/=

Establishing businessmen 100 nos. x 50,000 =Rs. 50, 00, 000/=

Providing Catamaran & nets to fisher men

10 villages x 100 persons x Rs. 10, 000 =Rs. 1, 00, 00, 000/=

Total cost of Rehabilitation Project = Rs. 2, 70, 00, 000/=

Helping Hand is providing Tsunami Relief in India through
Tamil Nadu Relief Committee