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Messages from Asian Friends
on the Recent Earthquake and Tsunami Disasters
(Updated: Jan 6, 2005)

Message from Rev. Felix (Chennnai, India, Facilitator of AHI's International Training couses since 1986)

1. Tsunami (Fri, 31 Dec 2004 15:47) <NEW>

1.
From: Rev. Felix
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 15:47
Subject: Tsunami

Dear friends of ARP (Association for Rural Poor),

Sub: Tsunami tidal wave triggers death and destruction in East Coast of India and Sri Lanka killing more than 42000 people, mostaly coastal poor and Fisherfolk. Tens of thousand have been rendered homeless and hundreds of children have become orphans overnight
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I would not be able to narrate through this short letter my nightmarish experience when I was so close to the East Cost of India seeing with my own eyes the horror caused by Tsunami, the giant tidal wave that killed within a few hours more than 42000 Coastal poor in Sri Lanka and in the South East Coast of India, especially Chennai city. In Chennai alone I counted one thousand dead bodies floating on the evening of December 26 around 5.00pm near Marina Beach and thousands of fisherfolk losing their homes and all belongings, crying in pain and agony with a mental and physical shock. Today's latest news is that 15000 people perished in South India between 26-29 December.

Marina beach in Chennai, one of the most beautiful beaches in South Asia has been fully devastated. But for Marina and Cooum river, which run in the heart of Chennai city, Chennai might have met the fate of other Coastal villages in the South East Coast of India. As the Marina has developed 1200 meters of cover over the years, it served as a buffer, protecting the densely populated Chennai residents totaling six and a half millions. Fortunately none of us have been hurt but our hearts are full of sorrow and dismay us to why this should happen to us.

What really happened was huge seismic sea waves triggered by a massive under sea earthquake off Sumatra, Indonesia, leaving over one million people dead and tens of thousand homeless in India, Sri Lanka, Andaman and Nicobar Island, Thailand Indonesia, Maldives and Malaysia. The Tsunami waves rose as high as six meters (20 feet) throughout the Indian ocean and Andaman Sea. The earthquake which had its epic centre 257 kilometers South West of Sumatra measured 8.9 on the Richter scale making it the most powerful in the world in the last 40 years.

Ms. Pascal Mary, a women coordinator of ARP, had a miraculous escape when St. Antony's Catholic Church which she was attending a "mass" on Sunday 26th December at 6.00-6.30am collapsed after Tsunami hit the Church thrice in Kalpakkam, a town near Atomic Energy Plant collapsing the church and killing 42 worshippers including two priests instantaneously.

All the Churches, NGOs and church related Institutions, Red Cross etc are rendering help and have started relief operations all over. The greatest need is food, clothing and medicine for 100,000 victims who are homeless and have become orphans with the death blown by the giant tidal wave called Tsunami.

I have been working with some of the Coastal fisherfolk villages near Mahabalipuram who have contacted me several times since December 26, 2004 for immediate help. I have visited these areas and assessed the situtation which is pathetic and heart breaking.

Please think it over send help immediately. (We are already collecting old clothes, rice and other old cooking vessels from friends and relatives to be distributed to the victims) The NGO coordination committee is also mobilising some resources here and there.

Again yesterday the National Metrological Department warned that another Tsunami wave might strike the East Cost after 1.00pm. Immediately all the remaining people left all the villages and even the Madras citydwellers ran amuch and found a safe place to survive. But by God's grace nothing has happened till now. Nobody can predict such natural calamities through satellite stations.

Your help could be sent by cheque to

ARP BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER 98264,
BANK OF BARODA, CHENNAI MAIN BRANCH, NO.28,
RAJAJI SALAI, CHENNAI 600 001. INDIA.

Please send a copy of your remitance by fax (0091 44 26712150) to follow up from this side.

Damages including loss of lives in Tamilnadu, India after Tsunami

Look forward to your generous and timely help,

May God bless you,

Yours sincerely,
Felix N. Sugirtharaj
Executive Secretary

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