Various
Ways of
Involvement
(Japanese)
Messages
from Asian Friends
on the Recent Earthquake and Tsunami
Disasters
(Updated: Jan 4, 2005)
Messages from Drs. Hari and Prem John (AHI's longtime friends and chairpersons of an AHI partner organization in Madras, India)
3. < a message from Hari> (Fri, Dec 31, 2004 21:50) <NEW>
2. Hari talks to Yamashita over the phone (Thu, Dec 30, 200414:30 JST)
1. <a message from Prem> (Dec 28, 2004 14:21 JST)
3.
From: Women in Development Trust
Date: Fri, Dec 31, 2004
21:50
Our dear friends,
These are calamitous times for those of us who live on the eastern seaboard in southern India. As you read this over 125,000 people would have lost their lives in the region and countless are unaccounted for. Since it is largely the poor, among them fisher folk and their women and children who have suffered the most, as usual they are treated as expendable. Therefore no reliable figures are as yet available.
This is perhaps the greatest
natural disaster to have occurred in this region and governments and aid
agencies have been caught napping. Relief, even food and water have been
delivered late. There are not enough graves or gravediggers for the enormous
numbers who have been killed. Earthmovers and common graves are the norm.
Water sources have been contaminated. Combined with uncleared corpses,
they
pose a grave public health threat to the survivors. Cholera, diarrhea,
dysentery and other water borne diseases are imminent.
We live just 200 meters from
the shore. The tsunami stopped at 100 meters. It was not so kind to the
fisher folk who live on the beach. Their huts and even concrete structures
were flattened. Their clothes, cooking vessels, books of their children
and other household articles were washed away. We can literally hear their
groaning. At times such as this it is impossible for any one to ignore
the plight of the poor. The response of ordinary people has been heart
warming. Large numbers of well-meaning individuals and organizations have
responded magnificently to this humanitarian crisis even
as the state government dithers.
As we see it, there are three levels of involvement possible:
One, immediate relief in terms of food, water, clothing, bed sheets, tents etc., This is being done on a massive scale even if governmental efforts are tardy and inadequate.
Two, housing on a permanent basis, cooking vessels, provisions etc.,
Three and more important, in the longer term, rehabilitation of orphans and livelihood issues such as boats, nets and alternative work sources that need to be identified and addressed.
These problems need to be addressed NOW. We invite you to come and be involved in these efforts. Remember that 50 Pound Sterling/100 Euro/US$125 can help temporarily rehabilitate an entire family including accommodation. They are now housed in schools, which will reopen on the 3rd and will need alternative accommodation soon. Contributions of around $20 can buy cooking utensils that have been washed away. Larger amounts will be needed for rehabilitation of orphans soon.
Would you like to be involved in these efforts? Would your friends like to be involved? If so contact us. Gifts can be sent to:
WID Trust R&R Account
Canara Bank
Besant Nagar
Madras 600 090, India
For those from India, WID Trust enjoys tax exemption and hence you will get income tax relief.
Warm regards and may the New Year bring peace to you and to the world!
Hari John
Executive Trustee, Women in Development Trust
Tel: +91-44-2825 2702
Fax: +91-44-2821 6705
Mobile: +91-98410-08001
E-mail: hariprem@...
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2.
Dr. Hari John told us over the phone to Mr. Yamashita, on December 30,
14:30
New year greetings to all.
She caught cold but active.
Church of South India (headed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Devashahayam, Bishop in Madras, Board of ANITRA) plans relief work programs.
Fund has already been availed from churches from other countries but your contribution is welcomed.
Plans will be sent to you as soon as prepared.
Youths of Nagaland, northeast of India will help them in January. The core members are ex-participants of training at ACHAN India.
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1.
From: prem_john@...
Date: Dec 28, 2004 14:21:56 JST
To: ohnomits@...
Subject: Fwd:
Dear Friend,
Here is a copy of a message I sent to some other friends. The hand of God has been with us, not only now but throughout the year.
Wishing you the very best in the New Year.
Prem
From: Dr. Prem Chandran John
<prem_john@...>
My dear friends,
This tsunami stopped just 50 meters from our home on the East coast of India, south of the city of Madras. Several fishermen's homes right on the beach were washed away with the people inside them. A large Catholic church also on the beach about 200 meters from our home was inundated but escaped. Our premier beach, about 3 kms. north of us was completely inundated, cars and people washed away, including wealthy people who go for morning walks on the beach and their cars were washed away.
Hari and I were 120 kms away from here at that time celebrating Christmas with some villagers since all our daughters were away!
As far as I can see, very little, apart from immediate relief, can be done for the survivors since almost all of them are fishermen and cannot and would not want to be relocated elsewhere. Replacing their thatched huts with concrete boxes wouldn't help either since many two-story concrete houses were battered and broken like match sticks.
Even if the survivors are not PHM members, they are surely our reference group. Hence, apart from thinking about them (and those of us who pray, praying for them), we need to consider strengthening the disaster management capacities of some of our members. Unni is somewhere in the thick of things.
Warm regards and may the New Year be a better one for the poor and for us!
Prem
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