4th April 2005

Letter from Hazel to say Thank You for the supports towards victims of TSUNAMI.

Dear sisters and friends,

In the name of the people affected by the calamity that struck South Asia in December 2004,
I wish to say 'thank you' for your prompt and generous response.

As you know, I am in direct touch with the sisters who work in Tamil Nadu, which was the worst affected state in the south oflndia.

It is over three months since the tsunami struck and people have to start rebuilding their lives in a more permanent way once again. The atmosphere of fear and uncertainty lingers like a dark cloud in their hearts and the recent earthquake that hit Indonesia once again in March adds to the feeling ofinstability.

The families who have been affected are mostly from the coastal areas, where fishing is the main occupation. The questions of acquiring boats and nets, of relocation of land to build their homes further from the sea, the accessibility of schools for children, vocational training for youth are important concerns to be addressed immediately. Some children have been injured in trying to escape. They need medical and rehabilitative care before being able to start school.

Up to the present, we have been able to help about forty families with getting boats and nets to start fishing and gain a livelihood. Twenty girls are staying with our sisters in Madras (chennai) to continue their education in school and thus not lose the academic year.
Their families have been given temporary shelters far away.

We have chosen three villages which are located far from our house, but which have been badly affected by the tsunami. It is not possible to continue giving aid and do a follow-up of the families without an on-the-spot presence.

Our sisters have found an apartment on a rental basis at a half-hour distance from the villages chosen. Three of the dhm are gradually freeing themselves from other engagements in order to be available for this new call to mission in the diocese of Pondicheny. During the month of May, five of our students in the Social Work College at Mangalore will be coming to work full time in order to assess the immediate situation and foresee the long-term planning especially to enable youth to take their responsibilities for the future.

We are prepared to take up a three-year plan of work with the people of these villages. One of the villages comprises people from the lowest ranks of society: the caste groups which are discriminated against by people from upper castes. Even though such social discrimination is a punishable offence according to law, much social consciousness has to be awakened in order to take the necessary action.

The poorer people, by and large, are not educated to stand for their rights. If they are not protected and encouraged to do so, their situation ofoppression will not change.

An important thrust of our work with women is to see what trades they can leam to help them earn better. They also need to be encouraged to form self-help groups, where they would be responsible for a certain financial management. The movement is catching up and we need to help orient ir towards goals that benefit people.

Another area of great need is listening and giving affective support to people. There are so many heart-rending stories of children who have lost both parents; parents looking distraught as they continue to hope they will find the son or daughter they lost. The material aid one can find but the ache within requires a gentle healing touch given with a patience bom of understanding.

The purpose of this letter is to say THANK YOU. It is not possible to write to each one of you but your names are with us. They are engraved in the heart of the One Who expresses love and personal caring through you. Your gestures of kindness, your desire to give generously, your genuine feeling of concem and your prayer for those who suffer bind us together in a warm, human embrace that communicates life and love, hope and motivation to grow as a world family.

Peace be with you!
Yours sincerely,

Hazel D'Lima