Stories
from
1. Fr. Francis Nalapan, OMI writes (02-01-05)…
“Tsunami” a frightening vocabulary of the New Year!
Every face of the Tamils in South India is writ with questions without answer, doubts
without facts, constant fear of recurrence without reality! Death toll reaching
as high as 121,000 in Asia has benumbed the hilarity of the New Year with
thousands being rendered homeless and futureless! Mothers without children,
children without parents, one or two in a family alive, old persons having lost all others in the
family…. are the narrated stories of life that has become the history of our
people in 2004!
A few Oblates among them
have lost very close relatives! From the very beginning some of our Oblates
live with the homeless, displaced ones living in their make-shift camps!
Fathers Pragasam OMI, Vincent OMI and Thiyagaraj OMI stay with them in their
emotional uncertainty, depression, insecurity and constant fear of recurrence.
Fr Pragasam told me that he had organized three lorry loads of clothes and
essentials within two days of instance and that next aid is expected on Sunday.
Fr Loorthusamy OMI, the Parish Priest cum Vicar Forane from Kancheepuram also
has organized with the youth immediate relief to the coastal people in the
Diocese of Chengelpet.
Oblate Students about 100 of
them in first formation were gathered in their annual feature, BOSOM 04 (All
Oblate Students Meet in Bangalore 26 -28 Dec. 04) when they learned of the
tragic calamity. They contributed their mite from their limited resources and
the Scholastics specially collected clothes and things in their respective
places of week-end ministry and from all well-wishers. On 30th Dec
04 went to affected areas to be with them and help out even in small ways. They
are also jointly involved with the local CRI (Conference of Religious of India)
in taking census of students who have lost their homes, study materials,
uniforms etc to help out in their education. There is not government help
forthcoming though there are a lot of voluntary persons and organizations
organize a lot of aid trips!
As
it is already a week the affected people do not want to be beggars anymore!
They do not want to be fed! They want to be inserted into the main streams of
social life! They want their homes restored and fishing profession helped out.
But such mammoth task is beyond any single organization. We need a concerted
effort centrally organized and executed in rebuilding the shattered hopes of
the thousands! Immense hope and challenges of the New year 2005!
2. Sister Rose Mary (the Head of Delegation in India)
writes...
I write this letter with
pain and with heavy heart to inform you about the sudden tragic situation of
our country. In India more than 1 lakh (100,000) people were killed by
the tridal waves. Still the dead bodies are being brought up by the fire
service men. In Tamil Nadu -Tanjore, Nagapattinam, Pattinapakkam,
karaikkal, Kanyakumari, Kulachal,
Muttam, Kadiyapattinam, Malamanakkudi etc.
Pondicherry, Kerala and
Andhra Pradesh people were destroyed by the giant waves and were left
homeless. Their boats, fishing nets, vehicles and properties were washed
away by the flood within 5 minutes. The mass media is not giving the
correct news about the accident.
In Pattinapakkam, 3 islands were completely washed away by the tridal
waves. Till now nobody knows what happened to the people who lived in
these villages.
Specially in Tanjore and Nagapattinam - the areas of the Shrine of Our Lady of
Veilankanni were badly affected. More than 50,000 were killed.
Among them many were Pilgrims. Since these people came from far places, their
dead bodies couldn't keep many days for identification by their own family
members. Hence thousands of dead bodies are buried together.
St. Thomas Cathedral, Santhome and the Besant Nagar - the Shrine of Our Lady of
Veilankanni which have given the refuge and the accommodation to the people who
were greatly affected. We, the Chennai Community live close to these areas.
On Sunday 26th December, after the mass of Holy Family Feast celebration we
heard the painful and the pathetic situation of our people. Immediately,
we as a Delegation, prepared 1,000 food pockets and rushed to the
spot. We consoled the people and told the priest Rev. Fr. Lawrence who is
in charge of them, that we are available for medical needs and for any other
service of the people.
Then we went to another
area, Besant Nagar and met the suffering people. After distributing the food packets, we met Rev. Fr. Bernard
Lawrence. He asked us to be ready at any time for his call in order to
help the people.
Near Pavunjur 3 villages are badly affected. From Paramankeny the Sacred
Heart Sisters came to our Convent only with few necessary things. People
in Koovathur village are in danger. There is no transport services,
electricity, telephone and other communications.
I have asked Sr. Fatima, the
Superior of Pavunjur Community to go and meet the people. If she needs
more Sisters I will send them to help the people those who are in need. To help the people those who are in
Kanyakumari, two Sisters from Madurai and Keela Uchani along with the
Kaliakkavilai Community Sisters are going.
We tried to get news about our missionary Sisters' families; but we haven't
received yet proper news. Srs. Bernetta and Alice families also have gone to
other place. They have lost their properties.
There
is a warning going on in T.V. news that this undersea earthquake may come
again. so, I have requested all the
community sisters in the Delegation to offer a day of adoration today for the
people who are in tragedy and to invoke the Lord to bring calm and harmony in
the sea and in our land. I have also asked our Sisters to collect clothes
and vessels from our well wishers and the parishoners in order to fulfil the
basic needs of these poor and helpless people.
The people have lost everything and left behind with fear, anxiety and
confusion. Most of them are Catholics.
We believe that the Lord of the Incarnation, the Powerful King will
bring peace and new life to our people. Please pray for our people
continuously.
3. Fr. Arul Raj (28 December 2004
17:56) writes…
The devastation by our Mother Nature is sadness beyond our expression. It is
incomparable in our history. The people and children who
lived by the sea, have died by the sea within seconds.
On the morning of 26th December 2004 between 8.30 to 10.30 a.m., in
the
eastern coast of India, hundreds lost their loved and beloved ones. It is
not an individual tragedy. In many families no individual is alive to cry for
the others. The whole family has been swept away
in the terrifying tragedy which have left many famililess, homeless, orphan,
sick, depressed and futureless.
It all happened in some villages living near the seashore. The people and the
children were surprised that all of a sudden the sea was going back for more
than 100 meters. The crabs on the rock were running here and there in the dry
land where it was sea before. Many fish were left struggling for breath because
their living water has left them high and dry. Children and others wondered at
the marvel of New Phenomena. Some even went running to collect fish and craps.
Then came the disaster. All of a sudden the sea that went back came forward at
a lightening speed. People were swallowed into nowhere.
In some other villages the children were enjoying a Christmas leave on the
seashore. The Sunday morning after Christmas gave a peaceful rest to many.
The warm sun shining on a cool Sunday morning had attracted many to enjoy
the day. Without any warning the sea came as a lightening as if
"sweeping
away the dust on the top of a table with the ruler". Nothing
remained. No
sign of the house, no people, no trace of any living signs.
Even in our own societies of DMI and MMI the only surviving members in
their family is the persons who joined our society. Most of them have died
in their watering graves.
We started our relief operation in Chennai and Kanyakumari on the evening
of 26th itself. In Kanyakumari, many of our Sisters, MMI fathers and
Brothers went along with other members and started the relief work.
Thousands food packets are being cooked and distributed in many villages.
Many of our brothers started digging the corpses from the debris. Many
others have joined in this. Even the Hindus and Muslims are involved in
this.
Unfortunately most of the people who have died and are affected are
Catholics and catholic villages. In Velankanni where our sisters are working
it is said, more than 1000 people have died. Still now everywhere, everyone
is trying it's best to dig out. Now we are afraid that the huge epidemic may
breakout. We have mobilized doctors along with my brother Joseph Dhas taking 50
doctors for various medical camps and supports.
Most of our brothers and sisters are going street to street in Chennai to
collect some support. Today also we are sending cloths along with 50 more of
our seminarians to do a voluntary work in Kanyakumari especially to clear the
corpses.
Do pray for us. And if it is possible please help us to help others. The
need is enormous to show the mercy of God to reach the unfortunate people.