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The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
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| 21.02.2005 |
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| India: LWF Field Program Continues Support to Churches in Post-Tsunami Rehabilitation |
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LWF/DWS Director Stresses Need to Restore Fishing Communities’ Livelihood
GENEVA, 21 February 2005 (LWI) – Following his recent assessment of tsunami-affected villages in southern India, the director of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World Service (DWS), Mr Robert Granke, has stressed the need for DWS’ continued strategic support to the Chennai-based United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI). The body of Lutheran churches has been providing relief and rehabilitation assistance to affected communities.
Granke said the Kolkata-based LWF/DWS India program, with extensive experience in handling recurring emergencies like flooding in India, has so far worked with the UELCI to distribute relief items, and in the construction of temporary shelters. With the completion of the relief phase at the end of January, further focus will be on rehabilitation of homes and livelihoods. The DWS director commended the good collaboration between the churches and LWF field program. A number UELCI churches are present in the areas worst affected by the December 26 disaster that struck several countries in South East Asia.
Out of the estimated 10,000 tsunami-related deaths in India, nearly 75 percent occurred on the southeast coast, particularly the state of Tamil Nadu. Thousands of people were reported missing, and over 140,000 mostly from fishing communities, were temporarily housed in relief centers.
Accompanied by Mr Howard Jost, LWF/DWS India director, Granke visited Cuddalore and Pondicherry in the southeast, where the state government has assigned several villages to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the LWF field program and UELCI. The DWS director met with Bishop Gideon Devanesan Rajagembeeram of the Arcot Lutheran Church, and the district administrative head, and toured devastated villages where he participated in the distribution of relief items.
In the villages assigned to DWS India, the government and other NGOs have already provided temporary shelters to those whose homes were completely destroyed, thus the LWF field program will assist in carrying out repairs to damaged houses. The government is expected to advise on the design and location of new houses. There are indications that rebuilding may be allowed on the original sites, but there is preference for land that is more than 500 meters from the coast. There is concern that people residing in houses that were not destroyed by the tsunamis would have to move if the limit is implemented, which would involve massive relocation.
Most of those directly affected in India belong to fishing communities, and have no way of earning a living without boats and nets. DWS India is prioritizing procurement of fiberglass boats, engines and nets. The LWF field program staff and community members are discussing the issue of ownership, with the aim of making boats available to fishermen who will work cooperatively. Traditionally, fishing boats have crews of five to ten men, and are, in some cases, hired by absentee boat owners. Granke noted that a new fiberglass boat would cost around USD 1,750. “It is important that the fishing community members agree on this joint responsibility,” he added.
Granke stressed the urgency to get the fishing communities back to work. “While they have already lost so much – family and community members, and property – and are deeply traumatized, they need their boats and nets back,” he said, describing groups of fishermen whiling away their days by the seashore. “Fishing is the only occupation they’ve ever known, and they need it back,” he added. (570 words)
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