Tsunami Recovery in Four Fishing Villages, India

Three years after the tsunami, most fishermen have resumed their productive activities to feed their families, which were left with nothing after the tragic disaster. Emergency relief has been practically completed at the cost of US$19,737 and made a big difference in the life of these families who were able to rebuild a livelihood in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. Replacing destroyed fishing boats is no more needed as big donor agencies have given too many. Fishing nets are still occasionally given on a case by case basis. Andhra Pradesh component was completed beginning 2006.

The focus since 2006 and for 2007 has been therefore on home reconstruction, flood protection work at home, village or population relocation shelter level, medical/dental care, access to school for tsunami affected and other poor students and assistance to families in difficulty in Tamil Nadu and Kerala: clean water supply and electricity connection; food supplements; school tuition; medical assistance; clothing; small productive equipment such as sewing machines; kitchen utensils, back to school items. US$7,970 has been spent on this revised program (total spent: US$27,707 including GG 10% admin cost).

Current results include: (a) Providing household utensils, clean water, food supplements, clothes, medical care, school supplies, sewing machines and fishing nets to a target population of 400 villagers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala; (b) Repairing 10 homes and rebuilding 9 homes in Kerala and Tamil Nadu; and (c) Protecting/sponsoring 10 poor children of families identified as victims of the tsunami who received $250 each in May and again in October since 2005 for medical assistance, safe water, and school enrollment and tuition (other non GG resources also used for this part of the program); (d) Helping 25 tsunami-affected girls finish high school in Santhome, Chennai, a success commented in previous progress reports and a proposed program extension for 2008.

Great care is given to ensure that the recovery effort does not exacerbate existing inequities, and that all people being helped are on their way to a better and safer development path than they were prior to the tragic tsunami three years ago. Progress, however, is slow today because funds are needed (US$27, 293) to complete the planned activities. Project full implementation can be made possible thanks to the generosity of Global Giving donors and all those who care, especially when the media are drawing attention to new calamities, and tsunami survivors are forgotten. Rebuilding a home is a long and painful process. We are happy that many families are better off today. We still need to help a few under this project and another one on Global Giving focusing on other similar needs. There are 20,000 families who are still homeless following the tragedy in India alone. Our target beneficiaries here are about 400 families, and we have helped about 50% of them so far, one way or another. Thank you.