Subject: An Appeal to Support Relief Work in South East and West India
As the deadly tsunami waves cross the South East and West shores of India more than 5,000 people are feared dead and thousands others displaced according to official sources.
According to news reports Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu are the worst affected. In Tamil Nadu more than 2,400 people are reported dead while 3000 people have been killed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Some unofficial sources have put the toll here to 10 000. In Pondicherry, at least a 100 people are dead while 89 casualties have been reported from Andhra Pradesh. The toll in Kerala has touched 128.
Villages have been swept away leaving hundreds and thousands of people homeless. Poor fishing communities are the worst affected. Those who escaped with their lives have been left destitute by the lashing floods, which carried off their meagre possessions. “As the waters retreated, bodies were left strewn across beaches, among smashed boats, tangled nets and the remains of fishermen's shacks. Among the dead was a group of 40 children who were playing cricket on the beach when a giant wave swept them out to sea,” reported The Telegraph. Relief and rescue efforts are yet to reach many far-flunged areas of Andaman & Nicobar.
Moreover the Meteorological office in Thiruvananthapuram has warned that fresh tsunamis may develop and there is possibility of high tides in coastal areas of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
In this context Centre for Education and Communication (CEC), Jagori, Other Media and Delhi Forum are calling a meeting on December 28, 2004 at 2.30 pm at Gandhi Peace Foundation, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi. The meeting will discuss how could we provide support from Delhi.
Meanwhile the affected organization working in the affected costal areas have requested relief. The demand is for the following things:
A) Clothes
B) Common medicines and water purifying tablets
C) Baby food
D) Dry Food
The contact points in the affected areas through whom the relief could be distributed are:
M. Subbu
Tamil Maanila Kattida Thozilalar Sangham (TMKTS)
1, Cross ST (F.F.) Kilpauk Garden,
Chennai-600010
Ph: 044-26478386
Email: msubbu_cwbc@vsnl.net
T. Peter
National Fishworkers Forum
Velankanny Junction, Valiathura
Vallakadavu P.O.
Trivandrum – 695008
Ph: 0471-2501376/2505216
Email: nff@vsnl.com
Jesurathinam, SNEHA, Nagapattinam
Tel: 04365-222907, 240622
Looking forward to your positive response.
cheque or draft in the name of the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and sent to the Prime Minister's Office, South Block, New Delhi-110001.
Cheque/DD to: Prime Minister's National Relief Fund
Address: Prime Minister's Office, South Block, New Delhi-110001.
The nationalised banks will not charge any commission on preparation of draft in favour of PMNRF.
Contributions could also be sent through money orders with no commission chargeable, the spokesman said adding that the contributions to PMNRF have been notified for 100% deduction from taxable income under section 80 (G) of the Income Tax Act.
