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Tsunami
CB India Update
Easter 2005
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Dear Friends of India,
Greetings and thank you for contributing so generously from your loving bounty.
We apologize for not having sent you the much-awaited photographs which show to
what extent our efforts towards rehabilitation have been rewarded.
The reason for the delay was a logistical one. Nothing was forthcoming from that
end due to a hold-up of the actual rehabilitation operation. What follows will
explain why this is so.
FRUSTRATION!
- It is a learning experience for us Christian Brothers. We thought it would be
as simple as getting monies and distributing directly to the survivors. There
are, however complexities within complexities! No shortage of money with the
government and the big agencies like Caritas, Care and others, but the policies
of the government for housing the landless fishermen and their families and the
real housing needs of the landless fishermen, as they perceive them, are in
direct conflict. The fishermen want to re-build their houses where they were
originally located, by the sea, and the government want to move them back 1-10
kilometres back from the seacoast. This is unacceptable to the fishermen who
need to be near the sea.
Terror or trauma or both reign and so, the whole livelihood rehabilitation has
been put on the back burner because many fishermen are afraid to go out to sea.
We have this information from a very reliable source – Fr. Freddy D’Souza, the
Director of the Social Justice Office in New Delhi, who is networking with other
Catholic agencies in tsunami-hit areas. Most NGOs are waiting to see how and
when best to use the money. Between the government jigs and the trauma-gripped
tsunami survivor reels, the 1st stage of rehabilitation is trundling at tortoise
speed.
We understand the expectations of the donors who with generous hearts have sent
what they could and await photographs and stories. We can guarantee our donors
transparency at all stages of their money disbursement which will be for the
most needy when we identify them. All of this must sound very confusing to you.
It did to us but now we are beginning to understand the complexities of
long-term rehabilitation in a developing nation like ours. It is an orchestrated
effort of different instruments and players and agencies and the conductor is
the government and believe me they wield the baton!
Breaking News!
- Thank God signs of movement have come through the Sisters of the Franciscan
Missionaries of Mary. They are working with the children of the tsunami
survivors in the Kanyakumari District.
We have decided to assist them with their needs on a priority basis. These are:
(1) the educational rehabilitation of children in the primary schools
(2) the assisting of youth to find employment.
The information gathered as a result of a survey of the students from the
coastal villages affected by the recent tsunami disaster at Kottar Diocese is
high. Limiting our aid to the institutions run by the Catholic Church , we have
singled out students from Colechal, Manakkudi, Pillaithope, Kottilpadu and
Alickal – this numbers 1500 students.
The cost for this entire project is $US 100,000. Of the $US 70,000 that has been
donated currently by you and our schools in India, we propose to send them $US
40,000 for the educational needs of the children, reserving $US 30,000 for a
second project that involves housing and fishing nets.
Thanking you for your generosity and patience,
Brothers Cyril, Placid and Gerard
A transcript of a letter expressing gratitude for money sent for the
rebuilding and renovating of a house that was destroyed.
St. Anne's Convent,
147, B.B.Ganguly Street,
Boitakhana,
Kolkata - 700 012
15.03.2005
Dear Bro. Cyril,
I pen these few lines to express my sincere gratitude for your timely help to
our family.
My family has been terribly affected in Kanya Kumari District by the recent
tidal waves of Tsunami. We had a decent house built just a few years ago. You
can see on the C.D as how everything has been pulled down in our area. This
place is called Kodi Munai, near Colachel. No, my family members are living
temporarily in the camp house given by the Government.
I have sent your gift to my sister to repair the doors and windows so that they
can go back to our house until a permanent settlement is made by the Government.
I cannot bear to see my family members living like refugees in our own land. We
have helped a number of suffering people earlier and I never dreamt that my
family would become orphans like this. Our Congregation has also helped them
with some money and dresses. They have lost everything including their clothes,
furniture etc.
The Lord has given and the Lord has taken. I only hope that my family members
will not lose their faith in this critical moment Keep us in your prayer.
I take this opportunity to thank you once again for your generous help that I
had received through
Sr.Inigo.
God bless,
Yours in J.C.,
(Sr.Eulalia. ssa)
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Photographs covering past, present and
future
events and initiatives. |
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Pictures the children washed
away by the Tsunami and mass graves
of victims.
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The village that will house
the school for some of the surviving
primary school-going children. |
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Some of the Franciscan
Sisters to whom your donations are being given for the rehabilitation of
children surviving the tsunami event. |

An old man who was spared to
tell the story. |
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A woman who will help out in
the proposed permanent Primary School. With one of the Sisters. |

Temporary School that will be replaced by a permanent
structure thanks to you.
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Temporary
School that will be replaced by a permanent structure thanks to you.
The
collapsed school
and
children wearing the only set of clothes
they
possess. School continues under these conditions.
The devastated village where your funds shall be
used.
Province Leadership Team - India
New Delhi
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