Helping the victims of the Tsunami

The FIOH Education and Development Fund
48 Churchward Avenue
Swindon
Wiltshire SN2 1NH
UK
Tel/Fax 01793 532353

Registered Charity Number 1047953

A tsunami is a long and massive sea wave triggered by seismic disturbances. The origin of the name is Japanese - tsu (harbour), nami (wave). The Tsunami hit hours after an earthquake off the Indonesian Island of Sumatra at 6.28 am IST on 26/12/04. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands (India) experienced 8 aftershocks ranging from 6 to 5.8 on the Richter scale.

"All the planet is vibrating from the quake", said Enzo Boschi, the head of Italy's National Geophysics Institute. Boschi said, "the quake even disturbed the Earth's rotation".
The last time a tsunami occurred in the Bay of Bengal was way back in 1992, when Indonesia experienced a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale. Japan is one of the two Asian countries - the other being Indonesia - which has been frequently hit by tsunami waves.

Creating a Tsunami Warning System
(Article from 'The Hindu' on December 31, 2004)

If there were doubts before, the tsunami of December 26, 2004 has swept them away. Over 150,000 people in a number of Asian countries have been killed by the monstrous waves, millions have been made homeless, and the economic cost of the destruction has been staggering. Unlike the Pacific Ocean, tsunamis may happen only once or twice in a century in the Indian Ocean. But recent events have amply demonstrated that once is more than enough. Not having an effective warning system in place is no longer an option. One great advantage is that countries in and around the Pacific have been developing and improving a tsunami warning system over the past four decades, and an international organisation exists to coordinate these efforts. In consequence, automated seismic stations can quickly pinpoint an earthquake that might set off a tsunami; gauges that measure changes in sea-level can verify whether a tsunami is indeed on its way; and sophisticated computer models can help establish where tsunami is headed and which places are most vulnerable to its onslaught. Joining the international tsunami warning system will give access to all this accumulated expertise and technology. But the methods developed for the Pacific will need to be adapted to the conditions in other oceans.

The first step must be to identify danger spots where future earthquakes likely to spawn tsunamis might occur. The latest tsunami as well as earlier ones that occurred in 1941 and 1881 originated from earthquakes off the coast of Sumatra and around the nearby Andaman and Nicobar islands. But these may not be the sole problem areas. The tsunami of 1945 struck India's West Coast and was generated by an earthquake off the coast of Mekhran in present day Pakistan. Although that earthquake was much less powerful than the one of December 26, the geological structures in the Mekhran area are capable of setting off more powerful and hence more dangerous earthquakes and tsunamis, say experts. There may be well other danger spots and a detailed survey for seismic hazard assessment all along the coast is the only way to identify them. The tsunami warning system can then be configured to keep watch on all these problem areas.
But generating reliable information about an oncoming tsunami is just the first task the warning system must perform. Such information will serve no purpose if it does not spur action to move vulnerable communities to safer places before the tsunami hits.

Fortunately India's well-developed space programme has already established 250 cyclone-warning receivers that can be activated via satellite; these can be used for tsunami warning as well and more can be deployed if needed. But a 'run for your life' sort of warning will only trigger panic and chaos. The real need is for procedures akin to the detailed emergency evacuation plans that all Indian nuclear plants have, which are meticulously tested with evacuation twice a year. Similar drills have to be mandated for each locality that might face a tsunami. Community education is vital so that people know exactly what they should do when the warning is sounded. It is conceivable that the evacuation procedures might have to cope with situations where the warning comes minutes before the tsunami strikes, as has happened in Japan. The biggest challenge, however, will be ensuring that the entire system - from the initial detection of the tsunami to the final evacuation - works flawlessly even though it might be called into action only once or twice in a century. As a moral imperative, India needs to commit itself immediately to such a high-grade warning system, and find the resources for it, in memory of the thousands who died for want of such a system.

FUTURE IN OUR HANDS HELPING THE VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI IN INDIA AND SRI LANKA

INDIA
"We have visited the three camps in Bapatla and neighboring towns Nizampatnam, Vetapalem and helping with supplies and liaising with local government for further help for the loss of boats, fishing nets and compensation.

We had a meeting with the District Collector and Revenue officers on same and they have assured of this help asap. Local support going slow here. We have been able to get medicines from the local pharmacy stores and doctors assured help at any time. The children will be needing long term help in addition to the government's compensation to parents - they will be using it for personal items or maybe towards building a house. The children need help with schoolbooks and clothing. The death toll has risen to 17,500 in India and 100,000 worldwide. 8,000 in Tamil Nadu and 175 in Andhra Pradesh (27/1/2005)."

Mr Mohan Rao Dasari

Dr Yashaswi and colleagues distributing medicines
and first aid.

If you would like to support the work of FIOH helping the victims of the tsunami please send your donation to:

Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
48 Churchward Avenue
Swindon SN2 1NH
UK
Tel 01793 532353

For UK donors:

Bankers Standing order form

Gift aid form

You can print these off from the web pages and send to the above address

 

 

A large pit dug as a mass
grave and dead children
laid out for identification

Displaced families
sleeping in the streets

Mohan Rao Desari working
with the tsunami victims

Updated: 11-03-2005

Introduction:
This is a second interim report on Tsunami devastation and relief measures taken by Hearts, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
Hearts, Project Coordinator Mr. Mohan Rao Dasari is continuously monitoring the Tsunami affected areas in Guntur and Prakasam districts. Hearts is working with local NGOs and supporters with the relief work in these areas.
Attached to this report are photographs taken during the Relief Work. The photographs of the Devastation were taken in the initial days of the situation in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh states.

Financial Assistance:
Hearts received Rs.116,887 (£1670) from friends groups in the UK and Australia for relief work. Local donations were received in kind such as blankets, cooking utensils, clothing and some food supplies.

Relief Camps for children:
6 relief camps were conducted in two districts. In these camps on an average 25 -30 children received regular support for food and games, counseling, non-formal education etc.

Sponsorship:
Hearts identified 12 children who lost single or both parents due to Tsunami. The community response was very saddening. The people are in big shock and fear. They refuse to go back to sea for 3 months although the Government taking all steps for them to get back to normality. Therefore the burden of earning income and looking after children become very difficult. In this situation for many women and relatives, their children getting care is very vital. These children will be looked after by Hearts since they have no other support from their families/relatives. Sponsorship for these children is essential.

Magnitude of the problem: The Facts and Figures
Earth shattering isn't just a figure of speech anymore. As the earth wobbled on its axis on December 26, India's southern coastline received dire whip lashings from the sea. Geologists say maps may have to be redrawn now. As always, when the sea rages, the fishing community takes the brunt of it all.

THE DEATH TOLL
India 9,682 (official figure)
Tamil Nadu Dead: 7,921 (Nagapattinam: 6,023;
Cuddalore: 606)Pondicherry Dead: 579 Missing: 86
Kerala Dead: 170 (Kollam: 130; Allappuzha: 35)
Andhra Pradesh Dead: 105 Missing: 11 (Nellore: 20; Guntur: 12)
Andaman & Nicobar Dead: 900 Missing: 6,010
(Car Nicobar: 336; Great Nicobar: 102)

FINANCIAL LOSS (INDIA)
The centre puts the preliminary estimate of the total loss for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry at: Rs 5,322 crore
Statewise losses:
Tamil Nadu: Rs 2,730 crore
Andhra Pradesh: Rs 720 crore
Kerala: Rs 1,358 crore
Pondicherry: Rs 512 crore
Andaman & Nicobar: Rs 2,500 crore

 

Other countries
Indonesia 94,081
Sri Lanka 30,500
Thailand 5,200
Maldives 82
Malaysia 68
Burma 64
Somalia 300
Tanzania 10

SRI LANKA
"We are involved in the emergency relief work now, and now it is not a problem of lack of relief items. We are thinking beyond. I am trying my best to get support for reconstruction and rehabilitation. Things like helping in housing, education of the children and re-commencing their economic life.
The most important thing as far as we are concerned is education of the children. 40,000 children are affected out of which about 10,000 are high school students. Not only direct support, but to support to those who lost one or both their parents. The governmet exams are in April 2005 for Advanced level students and were in December 2005 for Ordinary Level students. They need uniforms, books, equipment, tutoring and psycho traumatic counselling.
Our plan is to support 5,000 children out of 40,000 affected from all over the country. We have selected areas (districts) in the eastern coast, namely Trincomalee, Batticoloa and Ampara districts. The cost of the support per student is SLR 5500 (US$ 53)".

Mr Jayaratne Kahandawa, Future in Our Hands Development Fund EMail: fiohfund@sltnet.lk
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Between the 5th and 14th February 2005. Rev Wickramasinghe Tilakarathne (Presbyterian Christian) and leaders of the Hindu, Muslim and Bhuddist faiths and other Christian denominations, toured the main towns (shown red) affected by the tsunami with a view to addressing both the physical and spiritual needs of the victims.

This included Peraliya where over 2000 passengers were killed when a train was tossed by the force of the wave.
The towns of Galle, Mathara, Thangalla, Hambantota, Pothuvil, Kalmunai, Batticola, Trincomalee, Mulathieve and Jaffna were visited. The distance was over 2,400 Km.

The journey was undertaken in four decorated chariots. People were spiritually blessed and services conducted. Visits were made to the mass grave locations where 3,500 people from all races,faiths and castes were buried. Religious rights were given to the dead and prayers said for the survivors.