"We had heard about tidal waves in the sea. The coastal area has turned into a graveyard. The landscape has changed in many areas forever." - Mr. Nathaniya in Andamans ||||| "I saw it, with my eyes. The land separated in two parts. People just died. It is still horrible to remember. I had never seen it before. Now I see it everyday, in fact at Car Nicobar no one has seen this behaviour of sea before. We are living with sea since ages here." - Johnson in Andamans. ||||| "Nobody knew what was coming. We just saw a wall of water coming towards us. We had no option. We ran towards forest. Those who managed survived, those who failed, went away with the seawater. Fortunately I survived with my family. The Indian Air Force rescued me after two days. I spent these two days in forest with my elder son. Now I received the news about my younger son who is only nine months and safe with my mother in law." -Estervelina in Andamans ||||| "We, here inside Chennai, are not much affected but our friends in the other rural parts are severely affected. We have collected more than 4000 pairs of clothes and have distributed 400 in three relief camps. Our neighbours received them with thanks. But NGOs came and there was flood of clothes. Neighbours do not want our clothes. We would be thankful if the remaining clothes can be distributed to the affected communities in the far off Nagapattinum or Cuddlore. May be they also have too many clothes." - Sundervardhani and Laxmi in Chennai |||||  
   
AIDMI Response to Tsunami in Coastal India
 
The effect of the earthquake in Indonesia has overwhelmed the coastal area of South India on December 26, 2004. AIDMI has immediately responded to the disaster and has sent its team of four – Hasmukhbhai, Jikeshbhai, Tejalben, and Deepeshbhai – to Chennai coast on same evening.

Communication with the team has helped AIDMI to receive community information. For more information on need assessment write to bestteam@aidmi.org.

The communities for atleast one-month will not be able to revive their livelihoods. Temporary shelter arrangements are done in nearby schools.

The Collector is currently focussing on food aid but women and children can be better targeted. Household item kits are needed. Clean water is available but nowhere to store.

   
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