Greetings and Best wishes from Pastor P. Arul Kumar
In India The tsunami that claimed over 150,000 lives also destroyed livelihoods, many of which it had taken years to develop, in a matter of minutes. "Almost all fishing villages are badly damaged, and people there lost almost all belongings." Those who relied on their boats to feed themselves and their families are suddenly without any prospects for income. Many were barely getting by and have no reserved resources with which to start over.
Though countries around the globe have pledged over $2 billion in aid, much of it has yet to reach victims, with most roads still impassable. Hundreds of church buildings were destroyed in India. Christians expect no government aid for such losses and will rely more than ever on fellow believers to help them rebuild. Native missionaries have been helping victims since within hours of the disaster.
"While the Tamil Nadu government and ndian central government do their best along with NGO's, many remote, isolated areas remain untouched by them. Christian organizations and individuals are begun targeting these villages with relief aid. Where waters in some places came a mile inland, sent a team from its Church/Bible college to take aid to victims and has planned several more trips to deliver the food, clothing and utensils donated at emergency centers set up by the ministries.
We met the village (Kuppam) elders and the people and the Children. The situation both physically and spiritually is unimaginable: "It seems like people have lost all hope. They walk around like they are in a trance-everything is just unreal." When we see the living style of these affected tears are rolled in our cheeks. Oh! What a terrible condition.
Ladies are very scared to speak. The young adult children explained the terrible tidal waves with fear and cry. Oh! What a tragedy. I can say I never met people like this situation. There is no death in all the villages expect Satras Kuppam and Pudup attinam Kuppam. Five Children and two adults in Satras Kuppam, Five adults in Pudupattinam Kuppam were died. People told us that in Pudupattinam Nagar around 70 people died.
While we went one Kuppam (fishermen village) called �Pudiyakalpakkam� Organizations like world vision and Calvary missions build temporary shelters. Some others giving rations for the people in this village. Praise God.
Mr. Rajendran who last his house and his Engine Boat, staying with his wife and two children in a temporary tent said with tears that, �we have food for now, but we are not sure about our tomorrow, because I last my all belongings including my fishing boats and the fishing nets. I don�t know why God saved our life from sunami?�. We can see a lot of Rajendrans in these villages and we are able to do nothing but we share the love of God and prayed with them. Praise God.
Most of the people asked as to help to go fishing (their routine work). Even though they have fear to go fishing, they want to go because they don�t know any other jobs. To start the work they need boats and fishing nets. In some villages they don�t want to send their children�s in the fishing. They are looking to the Government for the permanent work. We saw most of their homes are just walk able distance nearly 300 feet to 500 feet. So they are asking the government for a safety place and a house for them to stay.