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Batticaloa, Sri Lanka Tsunami Report |
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Batticaloa, Sri Lanka Tsunami Report |
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| Date:
Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:09:15
From: "st.john's church" <> Dear friends, I am sorry I could not write you earlier due to my busyness in doing things in Batticaloa and Trincomalee. Besides the power lines and the telephone lines were broken down and we could not communicate with each other. I am glad Internet services are also resumed today. This is unfortunate the present tidal wave has hit many South Asian countries. Sri Lankan East and Northern costal areas are also hit very badly. The first wave came just after 9.30 A M on Sunday 26th December. Fortunately it was a day time.. Within 45 minutes time four times the waves came. In some areas 30 to 40 feet high. Almost all the villages in the Northern and Eastern costal belt are washed and destroyed. Many thousands people are killed, wounded or missing. The real numbers are not known yet. The official figures announced this morning is 27 000 reported to be killed. I am sure this will go up that side of 40 000. In Batticaloa and Ampara alone more than 10 000 people are killed. Many thousands bodies are under the rubbles, or trapped under destroyed buildings or buried under the sand or taken away in to the ocean. Whole of Batticaloa is in funeral mode. Every family either has lost their home or lost some one from their family. The immediate needs are food, clothes, shelter, and basic cooking utensils. We are mobilizing all our resources , institutions, and staff and doing the best possible. Grace care center in Trincomalee affected very badly. Fortunately non of our staff and children who were there are affected. But many children went home for a week during Christmas. We are yet to know about their situation. All our furniture, beds mattress, linens and cloths are taken away by the water. Buildings are partly damaged. Three parish members who returned from the worship service are reported washed away by the water. Including two children. Rallodai Church and the Day care center building on Vaharai
road in Batticaloa are completely destroyed. All the villagers are brought
in to
Hermans girls home in Periyaneelavanai is completely washed off. Even the coconut plants and Mango trees are up rooted with roots. The trees are closer to the main road. We could see the ocean from the road. All the children were worshiping in the Church during the time of incident . Boys home Samuel and the Church buildings are partly damaged. People who were inside the Church are safe. 6 worshipers with Pastor Selvantha's wife and 11 months old son was washed away and killed. We couldn't recover the bodies. Bodies are buried under the sand. We are searching for the bodies. There is 6 feet of sand at Hermans girls home and boys home Samuel. We are recovering the bodies with the help of St.John's VTC students and burying in the places where they are as most of the bodies are decomposed. We are distributing food and clothes and utensils to the
families in unreached pockets. Many villages are still not reachable. No
roads and
Clean water is also a need. We are trying to clean few wells and chlorinate them. Please do pray for us. At this time of Crisis every one is together. Many people give their support. We are grateful to our friends and partners for their support and concern. We are grateful to God for His Mercies. It would have been worse. Many people are asking for our bank account for sending donations. If anyone wants to send any contribution you may send your money straight to the bank. Please write to us and notify so that we can acknowledge the receipts and send you the reports. Name of Bank - Hatton National Bank Limited,
Name of Account :- St.John's Church
Account Number : - 01 - 0196601 - 8 Please do uphold all the families affected in your prayers. And also pray for us for our operations. Thanks. Rev S Jeyanesan
Date: Thu, 30 Dec
2004 20:40:56 ?
REPORT ON RELIEF AND SERVICES TIDAL WAVES 2004 My Church and I are extremely thankful to all those who sent us letters of condolence and encouragement thus expressing their solidarity at the hour of very deep grief and misery caused by the tidal waves. There were two things that delayed this activities report
to you all, one being the non availability of Internet facilities and the
fact I could
FOOD DISTRIBUTION: We commenced food distribution on the 26th itself ( The day of the Tsunami Waves) by supplying cooked food to the refugees who were brought into premises under our control in various areas. This numbered roughly about 3000 cooked parcels that were distributed to refugees camps in the proximity of our Church institutions. As most of the areas were totally inaccessible I had to get the boys with us, to take these parcels on pedal bicycles to be distributed to the needy. We specialized in servicing areas that appeared to be uncared and neglected. These were done by the Boys of the VTC as well as St.Johns boys home. As a date of this report we have distributed 5600 packets of dry rations to various camps consisting of Rice, Flour, Milk food, Dhal, Sugar, Soya meat, Tea Leaves, canned fish and noodles etc At the moment we are in the process of packing more dry ration parcels for distribution in the next few days. Utensils: No one has so far given utensils for the people to cook themselves. We have purchased three thousand sets of utensils from an aluminum factory from Colombo, Consisting 1 Rice pot, 1 water boiler, 2 cooking pans, 2 spoons, 3 plates, 2 covers, 2 lids and 1 plastic water carrier. This morning three groups of people left for Vaharai, Kathiraveli, Ralodai, Periyaneelavanai and Trincomalee to distribute these items to the needy families. It appears that no Institutions had so far serviced this
need and therefore there is a very severe demand for these items. We are
now exploring the ways and means to raise funds sufficient to cater to
a percentage of this need.
CLEARING THE DEAD BODIES: Dead bodies were strewn all over and were not cleared
by the relevant authorities. Therefore decomposition set in and it emanated
a bad stench and risk of the spread of decease was widely feared by all
concerned. We identified this as a very urgent and important matter and
lost no time in getting around 80 boys of the VTC and the Boys Home to
clear the dead bodies and bury them. The boys did a splendid job and recovered
15 bodies and burnt them, working amidst decomposed bodies is no easy task
and the boys accomplished this in a spirit of service to the humanity.
In the process they cleared few roads enabling people to use them.
These services will be continued.
WATER AND SANITATION: Almost all the wells in areas penetrated by the Tsunami waves have become salty and also polluted by over flow of septic tanks and had become unsuitable for drinking. We have purchased heavy-duty pumps and five gangs of boys are involved in completely draining the wells and treating with chlorine and other chemicals for purification. As at this time many wells were cleaned and treated and the water tested and confirmed clean for drinking and this is displayed with the notice in every well that was cleaned. This program will be an on going process to be continued until the demand is over. We have also provided to the needy people with disinfectant lotions creams and soap varieties and educating the people to use these things to ward off infections etc. CLOTHING AND SHELTER: VTC sewing section Girls and St Johns Girls are stitching cloths for women and Children. We have purchased necessary under pants and other sanitary items for women and children. We have distributed 3420 units of clothing which consisting of Bed sheets, sarongs, and sarees and nighties etc. We have provided material for temporary shelter such as
plastic roof covers, mats and cadjan for the roof.
MEDICAL & HEALTH SITUATION: There is wide spread diahorea is in many camps. Few of our social workers are visiting the camps and distributing tablets and Jeevany (local oral saline) to prevent dehydration. At the request of the director of the General Hospital of Batticaloa, we purchased and supplied some important medicines that were not available in the hospital for treatment of people for injuries and disease caused by the tidal waves. CONCLUSION; We presume that by this time you would have fully known
the total devastation caused by this Tsunami waves in South East Asia specially
the
Statistics at the moment puts the death toll around 30000 in Sri Lanka. But it is being speculated that it may rise to over fifty 50000. Persons who are listed as missing have not been properly accounted. We believe that The God provides, He sustains and showers blessings on His People. And chooses His people to help and to be helped. While I was concluding the report the electronic media in India and Sri Lanka reported of an impending tidal wave attack in South India and Sri Lanka consequent to a tremor in the Sea of Andaman Island. People panicked again and ran hither and thither for shelter and safety. Later just now the same media announced that the tidal waves drifted away and there is no imminent thread but requested the people to be vigilant and alert as fresh tremors if any could alter the situation. We cannot express in mere words your concern, solidarity, assistance, encouragement and prayers. Our people and we are immensely grateful to you all, for at the hour of our great need and calamity you have always come to our rescue and we therefore solicit the favor of your continued support and prayers. Yours in His service
Date: Sat, 01 Jan 2005 18:29:48
REPORT ON RELIEF AND SERVICES TIDAL WAVES 2004 - No 2. We are happy to give you another update on our emergency rescue and relief operations in the Eastern region. The Government today announced that the death toll has risen to 31000. But according to the other agencies it will be about 40000 or more. FOOD DISTRIBUTION I am glad to report that food and clothing truck has arrived
in Periyaneelavanai yesterday 31st December 2004. Distribution is being
done,
Ours is the first consignment which reached the village. It took 17 hours to reach there through various ways. I am glad that they had gone. As you know Periyaneelavanai, Thuraineelavanai, Kallaru, are land locked because of all the roads reaching these villages are breached. Today a team of people try to reach Periyaneelavanai again to stay, give support, start cleaning and putting things correct at Boys Home Samuel and also support the villages with relief measures. The rains and the floods have sub merged many roads in Eastern parts of our Country. We couldn't go there. We tried many ways unfortunately we could not reach there. The boat riders said the water is so fast they will not go into it. We have to return. On the way we distributed the clothes and the food we took with us for Periyaneelavanai in two refugee camps in Kurukkalmadam and Kaluwanchikudy. CLEARING THE BODIES FROM DEBRIS Our search for bodies are continuing. There are heavy rains for the last two days which tampered our efforts. Our community and I are very grateful to the Staff and Students of St John's VTC. They are our great resource at this time of crisis. I do not think at this juncture any other equipment will help us. This programme cannot be postponed because of the urgency. CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION: Well cleaning is also under way. We have drained and cleaned 46 wells. The necessary high powered pumps and equipments are already purchased. OPERATION IN TRINCOMALEE Food lories reached Trincomalee this evening. We also dispatched plastic roofing and cloths packets to Trinco. These items will be distributed in Uppuveli, Nelavali, Kenniya and Kanniya. "Grace Care Center" restoration work is already commenced. We were housing 102 orphans girls in the Home, 92 Children in the Day Care Center, 68 Youth in the Vocational Training Center and a programme for 75 Widows. A new complex which was under construction for 100 destitute
elders is also damaged.
MEDICAL PROGRAMME Our mobile Medical unit and the Staff stationed at "Grace Care Center" is working over time in the villages. We are happy to report that six doctors have arrived from USA this morning in Colombo. They will be driven to Trinco today and they will be based at Grace Care Center at Uppuveli. They will join the team of our mobile unit and start their clinics from tomorrow onwards. There are two doctors coming from Australia to St.John's
Batticaloa tonight. They will join the team with the General Hospital in
Batticaloa
We will continuously supply medicines to the clinics and
the Hospitals. Even in normal times the Government Hospitals do no get
some important medicines.
SHELTER AND CLOTHING As it is continuously raining roofing sheets are the immediate requirements for the families. These are not readily available in the market. We are only using the thick polythene sheets as a emergency measure. Also we are mending the coconut leaves and supplying as roofing. CONCLUSION We are ready to plan for the next face of our action. We have to consider some temporary housing and job support. That means we need to provide temporary housing and purchase nets and other fishing equipments for the fisherman, so that they can start earning for their livelihood. We need educational materials, uniforms, schoolbooks and exercise books for the Children to start with their studies. Other wise parents may not send their Children to Schools. The loss of life and the properties are so great and valuable. What we do comparatively is very little. It is our earnest prayer, that our good Lord will grant
all of us the strength and wisdom to continue with this tremendous task
on His behalf. to
Rev S Jeyanesan, St John's Center
Date:
Thu, 06 Jan 2005 17:37:43
My Dear Brother Joseph, Thanks for your mail. Yesterday I went to Vaharai, Mankerny, Aladivembu( Veda's Village ), Ralodai and Kayankerny. The entire villages on this coastal belt are in the refugee camps. Not a single building or hut is standing. We cannot drive from Batticaloa and go to Vaharai. At Panichankerny the bridge was completely washed off. We parked our Vehicle and went by boat and then by tractors to the refugee camps. We have distributed food and the New Zealand doctors treated 240 patients. Today we have sent 500 sets of Kitchen Utensils to the families in three camps. We need to re build these 5 villages. Today we left home at 6 o clock and reached Periyaneelavanai at 11 O clock. By van boat and three wheeler. After spending some time with our families brothers and sisters at Boys Home Samuel. We went to Periyaneelavanai Maha Vidyalayam and treated 57 patients. And then we went to Kalmunai and seen serious patients at the Base Hospital. Food is being transported to Boys Home Samuel. Coo pans are being distributed to affected families. This evening they will come and collect their packages. Dear Brother please hold on your visit. There are no places in our Guest rooms. Even visitors are sleeping on the veranda. Thank you for your good work on behalf of us. May God Bless you. Your Prayers are well appreciated. Your Brother Jeyanesan. -------- Original Message --------
Dear Friend, Let me send you our latest report for your information please. REPORT ON RELIEF AND SERVICES TIDAL WAVES 2004-(3) I am very happy to report to you in spite of our busy
schedule, through this update. From the bottom of my heart let me take
this opportunity to
Though the telephone lines and Internet services have not been rectified back to normal, at least we are able to send and receive messages. This is a great help to me at this time of crisis. I was able to attend my daily tasks with the help of the volunteers and the members of our community. FOOD DISTRIBUTION: As I reported to you earlier the food distribution started
on the 26th of December itself. Still we have been supplying cooked food
to the
The food packages distribution to the camps are still
going on. So far 6400 packages have been distributed to the areas such
as Kayankerny, Mankerny, Pannichankerny, Ralodai, Vaharai, Usanai, Periyaneelavanai,
Kallaru, Paddirippu, Kalmunai and Karadiyanaru.
UTENSILS: We have already distributed 3200 sets of kitchen utensils
for the families who are living in the camps. Mats and other basic articles
are provided wherever needed. These articles can be carried when they go
and resettle in their places.
WATER AND SANITATION: Cleaning the wells program is under going with full force
in eight villages. Altogether 420 wells are cleaned and chlorinated. Due
to the
CLOTHING AND SHELTER: 2230 clothing packets have been distributed as victims had ran away with what they were wearing. All the necessary clothes have to be provided to them. Now we are concentrating on School uniforms as schools are going to start soon. We are unable to purchase appropriate tents. The plastic material that we distributed is very basic. Orders have been made for strong Tarpaulins. MEDICAL & HEALTH SITUATION: We are very happy that two teams are doing an excellent clinic services. An Eight-member medical team sponsored by VeAhavta is operating from Grace Care Center Trincomalee. We already had a mobile unit there, so it is easy to operate from there. A New Zealand medical tram is operating from St John's Center with four staff in Batticaloa and Ampara District. FUTURE PLANS We are also planning to move to the second phase in resettling some of the families back to their original places. We also plan to provide basic agriculture and fishing materials for these settlers. We are collecting data regarding Orphans and destitute children and hope to bring them to existing homes and Day Care Centers for rehabilitation. We are also planning to organize Nutritional feeding centers and basic education classes in existing refugee camps. Many of the victims are physically, mentally and economically affected. Our counselors are dealing with affected women and children CONCLUSION; There is so much need and so much that can be done. People have suffered so much. We do not think anything like this has taken place in any part of the world like what happened because of the Tsunami on 26 December 2004. Let us all unite forgetting all our differences and ideologies
and work as one humanity as one, children of our Father and One God
Yours in His service
Subject:
Report 4
St John's Center
Dear Friends, Let me give you another report about our Operations in the Eastern Part of Sri Lanka from Ampara to Trincomalee. Let me first thank many of you for your continuous contributions, support, advice and visits. Most of you are away from the scene and the realities but we feel through your involvement that you are all present with us in Spirit. May the good Lord bless all of you and bless your actions that they may be a blessing to many thousands. At this juncture let me mention four Organizations who
are supporting our major relief and rehabilitation programmes: Kinder Not
Hilfe,
FOOD DISTRIBUTION We have slowed down distributing food to the camps. We only give food packets to the families outside camps who are staying with relatives and friends. We are also distributing milk powder and infant milk foods to the children in and outside the camps. We will continue to distribute food wherever it is needed. UTENSILS We have already distributed 5,820 sets of kitchen utensils (3 cooking pots with lids, 2 pans, 2 basins, 2 cups, 2 plates, 2 spoons and a bucket which will cost us about 950rs for each set) to families in and outside the camps. There was a great need for this service. Previously the food had been cooked in the camps but now this has stopped and the families are cooking their own food. Not many organizations thought of giving utensils. We are planning to give at least another 10,000 sets of utensils. 720 plastic and grass Mats have been distributed to families.
It has been raining in Batticaloa for the last week. It is hard for
the families to
Most of the camps are in areas with no electricity and families are living in darkness in the evenings. We have distributed candles this doesn't work because of the wind. We are planning to purchase 5,000 hurricane lanterns with kerosene we also need support with this project. WATER & SANITATION 'Cleaning the Wells' programme this is continuing in 7 villages. I am very pleased to report that up to yesterday 1,740 wells have been cleaned and drained either 2 or 3 times and treated with Chlorine. 10 groups of students and staff from St John's Vocational Training Center are using high-powered pumps on this project. After the wells are cleaned they place a sticker on the well indicating that it is 'clean water'. We have also placed plastic tanks in common places and by water bowser we supply clean water from St John's Centre everyday. These programmes will continue as clean water is essential to prevent diseases and epidemics. Unfortunately we have found that many wells have turned out to have salty water and cannot be used for drinking water. CLOTHING AND SHELTER 3,822 clothing packets (containing new sarong, skirt, blouse, nightie, underwear, sanitary napkins, soap) have been distributed to families. We have also distributed secondhand clothes along with these parcels to families as people have lost everything they are very appreciative of clothing. Still there is need for tents and roofing materials. We have distributed 220 tents received from various organizations. Orders have been placed for many more tents. MEDICAL AND HEALTH SITUATION We thank God that no epidemic has been reported from any of the camps. We have two medical teams - one based in St John's Batticaloa headed by a NZ medical team and other based from Grace Care Centre, Trincomalee headed by VeAhavta medical team USA. They work day and night visiting camps, homes and hospitals taking care of medical needs. There are more doctors and nurses from various countries lined up to replace medical and paramedical staff. We appreciate their dedication and tireless services. TRAUMA THERAPY There is, and will be, immense need as people deal with huge psychological problems resulting from the trauma they have experienced. We are proposing to minimally train therapists who can be sent to the camps. EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE We are happy to report that we have established tents
in the existing refugee camps and have started nutritional feeding for
the children ages
We are also happy to report that the destroyed Neethsoli Day Care Centre had been started at Kaianankni Refugee Camp. We are supplying 5,000 children with school uniforms (which are presently being stitched) and have also purchased stationary and exercise books for these students. veddas aboriginal community of Sri Lanka It is our bond and duty to preserve and save the traditions and the culture of the Tamil Veddas who were affected very badly in Batticaloa. These are the unique and precious people who have lived for generations as 'Tamil Veddas' in Batticaloa only. We are doing everything possible to preserve their identity, culture, livelihood and their existence. There are Sinhalese Veddas in two other villages in another part of our country. FUTURE PLANS
For generations the fishermen and their families have lived close to the sea which is the way in Sri Lanka. We need time to plan between the people and the Government for appropriate locations. We are also planning to resettle at least 1,000 families
in 4 different villages giving them a basic house, a well, a toilet and
support to restart
CONCLUSION Again I mention 'there is so much to be done for these people'. They have lost everything, not only have they lost their worldly possessions they have lost their hopes. Some of them have lost their beliefs too. We have to rebuild them. Give them support and hope and believe in Our Almighty. Pain and suffering bring people together more than joy and pleasure. There is only One God and One Humanity - One Family. It is our moral and spiritual obligation to listen to the needs and to reply responsibly. May God bless you all
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