India - tsunami update

The communities where we work weren't hit by tsunami. After assessing where we can be most effective in helping relief efforts, we will work with partners in both Andra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

In Andra Pradesh, the situation is not as bad as was feared. We're working with the AGS coalition, a group of NGOs with whom we already work with on child trafficking issues.

Relief camps had been set up quickly, but were closed down again within days as communities preferred to return to their homes. Food was distributed to families of fishing community who have ration cards, but those families without card and other than fisher folks did not receive any assistance. The ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme for children 0-5 yrs) centers were distributing supplementary nutrition for children, but in the absence of regular diet at home the supplied quantities were insufficient, and blocks not covered under ICDS system did not receive any. Water supply was damaged, and was brought in by tankers. Schools were still functioning. The problem was more that children never went to school in the first place, so the question of returning to school was irrelevant for most.

There is an immediate need for care, support and trauma counselling for children with focus on vulnerable groups like disabled, orphans and single parent children. Due to the loss of livelihood, children were at risk of:

• Threat of sexual exploitation of young girls (and women) with no work for men and women and people sitting idle – especially of concern as the area also has large number of HIV positive cases.
• Potential of increasing child labour, and children sent out begging
• Likely physical and occupational migration affecting children.

Plan has agreed to support a relief operation proposed by the AGS Coalition of 4 NGOs. This is a partner with whom we have worked previously and have plans to work with on a huge HIV/AIDS and child trafficking project for the next 5 years.

AGS proposed that 4,675 affected families in 4 districts of Andhra Pradesh were in need of perishable and non-perishable food items and medicines The distribution of the items will begin from 14 January 2005.

Tamil Nadu was badly hit. We are currently working with our partner Childline to plan the relief effort.
This is likely to include:
- the provision of children's food, milk, vitamins, micronutrients
- the provision of education materials
- child trauma healing

Our assessment report from both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh identifies that help is required with:
- poor sanitary conditions in relief camps
- damaged schools
- trauma counselling
- threat of sexual exploitation and child labour.

We're working with a coalition of international and local NGOs for emergency relief and long term support.

"We have prioritised the issues that Plan will support and these will concentrate on getting children back to school and in ensuring that appropriate care and counseling is available to them," says Bruno Oudmayer, Country Director, Plan India.

Plan is now concentrating on the rehabilitation projects, especially in Tamil Nadu districts Nagapattinam and Cuddalore.

Naggapattinum and Cuddalore
Plan has also supported three new partners, REAL, CARE, and CREATE working in Naggapattinum and Cuddalore districts respectively, in about 40 affected villages in the coastal belt. As of 13 January, they have reported that 172 temporary shelters have been constructed, and another 425 are in progress.  One child care centre is complete, and another 14 are in progress. Recreation and counselling activities for kids is being undertaken in 5 camps, while distribution of disposable syringes/needles & medicines have begun in 7 camps. The cleaning of schools and villages has been completed in three villages.

Plan's office in Chennai is now fully operational

Our teams in all affected countries are continuing to assess and determining the most appropriate support and potential partners for both short term and longer term development. Our goal is to create a safe environment for children focusing on making the camps child-friendly. Programs that address providing for people's basic needs, child protection and children's development are expected to be supported.