Team 1, Nagapattinam, India
 

AMURT has established a disaster response base in the coastal town of Keerakolaichal in Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu.

In phase one of the relief work our team located and buried or cremated all the dead bodies in and around Keerakolaichal in Nagapattinam district. We were able to locate the bodies with the help of military helicopters, and the villagers and townspeople themselves. Grief-stricken tsunami survivors would approach us asking us to carry their dead relatives away. We disposed of up to 60 bodies daily from December 28 to January 2.

January 2

Our team members report that almost all the houses on the sea front have been destroyed or badly damaged, and the local people are in a state of shock. Many of them are fishermen, and have seen both their homes and their boats washed away. Over 250,000 people in Nagapattinam district depend on fishing for their livelihood, and their future now looks bleak.

Every day our team members confront the suffering caused by this calamity. Yesterday a volunteer informed us about a twelve year old boy who was found carrying his four-year old brother over his shoulder. The boy was seeking medical assistance for his brother and had walked 32 kilometers. When the younger boy was examined it was found that he was already dead.

January 3

We only found two bodies today, those of two children lying together, aged approximately 3 and 9 years old. The military helicopters scanned the area and told us that no more bodies were visible. It is suspected that more bodies lie covered by sand that was churned by the tsunami waves. Government officials feel it is better to leave those bodies where they are.

Phase two of the relief work began with the repairing of damages houses with local materials, including wood and coconut leaves. We repaired four houses today.

The Pondicherry chapter of AMURT distributed clothes to all the children from Pudukkupam village. Almost all the houses were destroyed in the village, as well as the fishing boats and nets. The people are either sleeping outdoors or in the temple.

Testimonial

Murthuji, Keerakolaichal: "I have never seen anything like this in my entire life, and I have almost reached 70. All the houses on the sea front have been destroyed, and the local people are in a state of shock. They do not know what to do. Everyone is suffering. Yesterday I heard about a twelve year old boy who was found carrying his four-year old brother over his shoulder. The boy was seeking medical assistance for his brother and had walked 32 kilometers. When the younger boy was examined it was found that he was already dead.
 

Team 2, Aceh, Indonesia

Testimonial

Dada Dinakara, Banda Aceh: "There is no transportation in the city. The roads are filled with rubbish, broken roofs, boats, etc. Dead bodies can still be seen lying in the streets. The stench from decaying bodies have send many people out of the city into the countryside. We don’t know yet what happens to them.

We came in a big truck loaded with 2160 boxes of noodles, biscuits, mineral water and milk. An Acehnese businessman who owns the biggest supermarket in Banda Aceh got it entirely destroyed to the ground. He is the one helping us. We stay in his house. He uses his workers to help us distribute. The masses here are really wild. Fortunately we are protected by the military. The people here really need help. They have no water to cook; not even kitchen utensils. There is also no water to take bath. We have not taken bath for 2 days. I feel there is here a hidden force which guides me to face all the difficulties. A funny thing is that some people ask for cigarettes instead of food!"

There is also no electricity. But some generators are being installed in the distribution centres. The phone lines are down. Cell phones are working with SMS only. There is the rumour that Chinese citizens don’t receive any food. In fact they are not rejected, but they still fear the reaction of the indigenes. Anti Chinese vandalism, killing and raping in 98 and also the recent abuse against than in Aceh which provoked a mass emigration to Medan and other cities has taught the Chinese to be cautious. They are afraid of mixing with them in places where a political outbreak may happen.

Dada Dinakar (left) serving in Banda Aceh