Report on Tsunami Relief in India - $21,464 sent.

As other big stories have hit the news recently, it is easy for us to forget the tragedy and devastating loss of life and livelihood which ravaged Southeast Asia, India and Africa just 4 months ago.  The December 26 tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people and left even more without home or family. 

Immediately following this living nightmare, survivors faced food shortages, contaminated water and the rapid spread of disease.  CHIF representative, Paparao and his team of volunteers, who are stationed 3 miles from the southern Indian coast, instantly mobilized and began feeding hundreds of people on a daily basis.  Shortly thereafter, support poured in from CHIF friends and families and we were able to set up 8 temporary medical clinics to provide vaccinations and basic medicines to prevent disease. 

As time has passed and the tsunami fades from our memories here in the West, the need remains overwhelming for those who lost their homes and cannot afford to build – or for fishermen, whose sole income was dependent on their fishing boats, destroyed by the waves. 

Paparao continued to work with the fishermen, providing nets, repairing boats and replacing pots and utensils for their wives, so they may once again prepare food for their families.  The pictures here show the work Paparao has been doing, thanks to the support of our donors.  CHIF sent $21,464 in relief funds.  While this may be a small drop in the bucket of the millions of dollars sent from around the world, you can see what a difference it made in these communities in India.

KAKINADA, INDIA – January 4, 2005 – Email from Paparao

Presently, as God provides, we are cooking food and helping the victims with that food. The main need for these victims is: Blankets, medical help, food. This is an urgent need for these victims. The government is very slow. To the sea shore, I am just 3 miles away. Many people living at the shore in small huts. When Dwyatt visited Kakinada, he visited those villages too. The huts are totally damaged as those huts are made with mud walls and with palm leaves. The fishermen lost so many people. Whether those people were died or what was happened to them..no one knows. These fishermen are not allowed to go in to the ocean. The government is not allowing them to go. So, they do not have livelihood. Also, the government was advised the people not to eat fish for some months.  So, the fishermen lost their livelihood totally. So, they need help. If some help is provided, I want to buy blankets for the victims. The volunteers of Mission to the Nations are very eager to help the people. The victims are in need of medical help after this tragedy. Infections are taking place in these fishermen villages. Please pray.

KAKINADA, INDIA – April 1, 2005 – Letter from Paparao

I thank you so much for all the help you have given to meet some of the emergency needs of the people affected by the tsunami.  The help you kindly sent really met the needs of many hundreds of people.  With your kind help, we are able to help to repair 5 boats.  We have given material and also we hired the labor to get the boats repaired.  With these boats, about 25 families can live by going to fish again.  Also, I am able to help 20 families with fishing nets to go back and start their lives again.  Several times we conducted feeding programs for the children and for adults.  We conducted about 20 feeding programs in different villages.  I have also given blankets to about 1500 people in different villages.  There is so much to do for these people.  But, as God provides, I am doing my best to reach each and every one with help and support.  Also, we have conducted 8 mobile medical help programs for the survivors of the tsunami. Thank you very much for all your kind help. 

Children's  Hope  International  is  launching an emergency  appeal  in response to the devastating tidal waves on December 26 that hit many parts of Asia and seriously affected parts of southern India. Our priority at Children's Hope International is to get relief supplies into the southeast coastal region of India as quickly as possible. The immediate goal is to provide food and safe drinking water to the poorest and most vulnerable children and adults. When these needs are met, the focus will shift to rehabilitation and helping people to rebuild their lives.

Children’s Hope is in a long-term relationship with Mission to the Nations, an Indian orphanage and humanitarian organization of great integrity, located in Kakinada, which has been working around the clock since the tsunami struck, giving emergency relief to thousands of victims. The agency director, Paparao Yelchuri, has set up an emergency program to help those affected by the natural disaster, feeding over 2,000 people a day. His work is focusing on helping displaced people and vulnerable populations, such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. This is an overwhelming task – trying to provide the most basic necessities, such as food, water and shelter, as so many people only have the clothes that they were wearing when the disaster struck.

Needs include:

§ Blankets – Our goal is to provide enough funds to purchase 3,000 blankets at a cost of about $2
   each.  This includes putting the blankets straight into the hands of the persons in need.

§ Medical camps – These facilities have been set up to provide basic medical care in areas of
    need – some of them almost unreachable by ordinary means. An entire unit can be sent and set
    up for approximately $200. Many such treat locations are required.  Help if you can!

§ Shelter – The orphanage is currently providing temporary shelter for about 250 people, and
   funds are needed to provide those staying there with food and water.  Per family care can be
   provided for about $25.00 per week.

§ Fishing nets – Many fishing villages have been badly damaged and the residents have lost their
   livelihood. Providing nets will help the fishermen to eventually earn a living once again.  A $100
   donation will provide a fisherman family with the means to live for one month and restore their
   means of livelihood.

    Donations of money in any amount will be greatly appreciated and will offer immediate and tangible assistance to individuals and families in several Indian coastal towns. One hundred percent of the contributions received by Children’s Hope International go directly to help people in need – with the assurance that even the smallest amount will do the greatest good.

All donations to Children’s Hope International are 100% tax-deductible, under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code and can be made through Network for Good


or
a check to  Children’s Hope International made out to CHI Foundation 
      at 11780 Borman Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146.