Tsunami had caused unprecedented destruction in Tamil Nadu.  There was utter pandemonium in these districts for a few days in the beginning. The initial inputs were either distorted or misquoted and the people have not come to terms with the awesome fury of the sea.

Within a day or two, many national and international NGOs descended on the entire affected areas of these districts.  Some NGOs offered free food; others gave away cash donations, and some others gave clothes and house-hold utensils and so on.  Every NGO had catered to the immediate requirements of the people in those preliminary days.

AID had dispatched its staff working at various parts of Tamil Nadu to the affected areas and collected information on the Tsunami crisis.  AID has critically evaluated the problems of Tsunami-caused wretchedness.

In view of the urgency to reaching the affected people for their revival in the first phase, AID plunged into action for identification of
          1) The affected seashore villages in Tamil Nadu
          2) Volunteers for carrying out the mission and
          3) specific issues to be addressed.

A quick survey has been conducted in the affected area in the coastal belt of Tamil Nadu during January 2005 for assessing the vital information on the problems, issues, needs and perspectives of the families and communities affected by Tsunami.  Both in formal as well as informal way, the issues, problems and their needs have been identified.

Similarly both secondary data and primary data have also been collected to use as base line status of the affected families and communities on key area of intervention.  During the visit for survey, a rapport was established with the public to work with them on a long term basis as well as to identify local youth to work as volunteers in the project.

Firsthand report was prepared on the ground realities of the affected families and extent of damage of the affected area/villages visited which included Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanniyakumari districts in the state.

The onsite experience of various associates of AID in Tamil Nadu helped it to identify and analyze the ground issues in the Tsunami affected regions immediately.  This was possible by direct interaction with the affected personnel, home visit and camping at the affected villages.

Further, AID conducted various studies in the affected areas. In the first week of February, the entire Parangipettai and Nagapattinam blocks were studied.   At the end of February, a second study was conducted again in these blocks.

This data was statistically analyzed to come to a definite conclusion. The requirements of the people both for short and long terms were noted down and AID planned community rehabilitation-oriented strategies that would reassure the people to come out of the tragedy for an enduring future.

The days ahead would be crucial for AID to translate all its efforts to bear fruits for the affected people. Let us join hands!