Une première évaluation du désastre au Tamil Nadu par notre partenaire indien, Duarte Baretto

To SUPPORT RELIEF WORK IN CUDDALORE, PONDICHERRY in TAMILNADU AND THE UNION TERRITORY OF PONDICHERRY IN INDIA

December 30, 2004

Dear Friends

You are aware of the recent tragedy that has hit India, Sri Lanka and other neighbouring countries in South and South East Asia. It is terrible and it is immense. In India alone, more than 10, 000 people are feared dead. According to official sources, tens of thousands of people are displaced. Tamilnadu, Pondicherry and the Nicobar & Andaman Islands are the most affected areas.

Some of these areas that are most affected are areas where FEDINA has been working for many years. Some of this work includes the formation of fishermen's unions and women's organisation.
This is true for the coastal areas of Cuddalore and Kanyakumari in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry.

Our colleagues there are spending a lot of time in helping the victims bury their dead. They are also helping them to obtain temporary shelter.
In Cuddalore and in Pondicherry they have formed relief committees with other NGOs. In Kanyakumari, there are similar organisations and there is also the support of the Catholic Church, which is very strong among fishing ommunities.
The immediate demand is for the following:

- Clothes
- Common medicines and water purifying tablets
- Baby Food
- Dry food
- Books for children so that they can go back to school

The relief work will soon be over. The next phase of Reconstruction will startŠ. In some of these areas, activists have begun speaking with traumatised but reticent victims of the need to go back to their respective villages. There is need of materials for temporary housing, rudimentary fishing equipment especially traditional boats and fishing nets.

We would be extremely grateful if you can help us in any way you can.

This is an extremely sad time for all of usŠand yet, I would like to wish you on behalf of the whole team at FEDINA a Happy New Year with the hope that the coming year will make us more sensitive and more humane towards all those who suffer.

I thank you and wish you the best for the year 2005.

Yours sincerely

Duarte Barreto
EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE
FEDINA