India

In Southern India, hundreds of people were killed and entire villages destroyed when the wave hit. Large swathes of agricultural land were contaminated with salty sea water, devastating many small farming communities.

SCIAF is working with various local organisations in the region, funding six different projects aimed at helping those worst affected by the tsunami.

In Tamil Nadu, SCIAF works alongside the Women’s Collective, RCPDS, SPEECH and APD, helping people in 26 villages to develop alternative livelihoods, promote women and children’s rights, increase household incomes and provide food security. In the Union Territory of Pondicherry, SCIAF has teamed up with CORP to help Tsunami affected families get back on their feet.

Money is being spent to help desalinate the land so that it is fertile once more, and to help people prepare themselves so that they are better protected against future natural disasters. SCIAF is also working with rural village communities to increase access to healthcare, promote gender equality and social inclusion and improve the status of women and marginalised groups.

The specific needs of people with disabilities following the tsunami have not been addressed so SCIAF is seeking to bridge this gap. Working alongside ADP, SCIAF is providing practical support to 100 disabled people in the affected areas and specialist rehabilitation training to two members of ADP staff based in Tamil Nadu.

Fishing communities in the coastal state of Andhra Pradesh were also badly hit by the tsunami. Many people were swept out to sea and hundreds of fishing boats and nets destroyed.

SCIAF is providing money to its local partner, Outreach, which operates in the Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh to build 160 houses, replace boats and nets, provide trauma counselling and medical treatment, and promote alternative livelihoods.

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