Asi@news

N°3

News Bulletin from the International General Council on the disaster in Asia

 

 

Testimony of Kottar Central Council President (India) (extracts)

 

As it was announced in Asi@news nb 2, here are extracts from the first report done by Mr Xavier James Raj, President of Kottar Central Council, in India. Even if it is not “burning news” it is very interesting, and gives a very good vision of our Vincentians’ implication.

 

“As soon as, we Vincentians heard the news, we rushed into the near by affected places and did the relief works as much as possible by us. We took two vans and carried the dead bodies and injured peoplepersonally to the hospitals. The conditions are very pathetic. More than 2,000 persons lost their lives (including the missing people) in the district and around 1,500 people are seriously injured. Most of them are children, aged and women. The search for the missing people is still going on. The survivors have lost everything, all of their belongings; they escaped from the villages with only their clothes on, and children become orphans in a minute time. More than 90 % of the victims belong to the fishermen community.

 

Lot of Houses and other agricultural fields are heavily damaged. Almost all of the fishing boat, and fishing nets were lost. Three villages (Keela Manakudy, Mela Manakudy and Alikal) were destroyed fully. Even permanent concrete buildings, houses were destroyed.

 

Indian victims gathered in a Center

Initially, the surviving victims (totally around 90,000 initially) were temporarily settled in 63 camps. In these camps, we arranged food items, drinking water, cloths, medicines and other needed items with the help of the local people. All people in and around helped the victims without seeing the caste, religion or creed of the people. Now, most of them are shifted to their houses, and some of them are still in their friends & relative’s houses. The remaining victims (around 4.000), for whom no place is available and whose houses are fully damaged are still in the 5 remaining centres; and January 17th, was the reopening day for the schools

 

We have visited all the affected areas. The sorrow of the victims cannot be explained. Even after 22 days of the incidents, people fear very much to go to their only known work of fishing. Now, we are visiting them regularly and consoling them through counselling and trying our level best to avoid their fearing. But, it is for beyond our expectation of making them as courage and confident about their life.

 

Our Vincentians have stored the items such as rice, cloths, note books etc. We distributed note books and other educational materials to the very poor students. Immediate help needed for the victims at the rehabilitation centers have been made available. We are struggling very much. Moreover the present essential work is counselling these people. We Vincentians are daily meeting them and consoling them. There are 6 more villages affected in our area, where our Conference does not exist. But, we have to under take the relief works in these areas also.

 

Apart from the human loss, the total estimated losses of other items are more than 262 crores of Rupees (€ 47 million).

 

Totally 5 of our active Vincentians brothers including a Conference President, died in the tragedy; and some Vincentians’ relatives also died or have disappeared. Losses of our Vincentian brothers and sisters are very high. Lot of our adopted family members also expired.

 

We formed a special committee to look after the victims and continue a permanent rehabilitation work effectively for these very poor families.   Now, our plan for the rehabilitation work is as per the following priority depending upon the sources, we mobilize :

 

Educating the children and youth belongs to the poor victims estimated as around 400, Medical care and awareness programmes, Self-Help assistances for 300 poor victims, who lost everything and living without anybody’s help (Providing fishing nets and Kattumaram as well as milking cow to the poor victims), If possible, 200 concrete good conditioned Houses of around 300 square feet area.

Since, we are doing lot of things now, our Local collection will be only sufficient to take care their day today livelihoods such as food, dress etc”

(M. Xavier James Raj, President, Kottar C.C)

                                              

 

The Organization set up by the International Council General

 

As it was said in our previous issue of Asi@news, the International Council General has issued a document about application and accountability process for utilisation of Asian Disaster Fund. This document settles the following process:

 

Requests for assistance from National Council of affected countries

Recipient National Council submit their request to the Coordinator for their area, with copy to the Technical Commission (TC) in ICG, Paris and their donor Twinned National Council. The Coordinator will then append his comments and recommendations and forward them to the Commission, with copy to the International Territorial Vice-President (ITVP) for the region and Deputy Vice-President General (DVPG Michael Thio). The Vice Presidents will subsequently forward their comments to the Technical Commission. Likewise, the donor Twinned National Council will also forward their comments to all institutions and people involved.		Phuket Conference Members visiting a hospital
A victims Camp in Thailand	The Commission will review the request and comments, and forward their recommendations to DVPG and ITVP for their concurrence or otherwise and joint approval by TC, ITVP and DVPG to be obtained. Upon approval, The Commission will inform the recipient National Council, the Coordinator and the donor Twinned National Council. Funds will be sent to the recipient National Council.

 

The recipient National Council will render a full account of the utilisation of funds to CGI with copy to the Co-ordinator, donor Twinned National Council, ITVP and DVPG.

 

Travel expenses for CGI personnel to affected countries are also planned and controlled, as they need to be priorly approved by DVPG (Michael. Thio), with estimated costs. If the Deputy Vice-President General himself has to travel, he will seek approval from the President General.

 

Funds, Financial Records and Statements:

 

A separate accounting record has to be maintained for the “Asian Disaster Fund”, with due publication on ozanet.org and information of all involved responsible people. When the “Asian Disaster Fund” is running low and we need more funds to sustain the humanitarian assistance to be provided to the countries, appeals for more funds shall be made.

 

Communication is also centralised at the International Council, through Asi@news, www.ozanet.org website and through ssvp.tsunami@ozanet.org e-mail address.

 

Process

 

In order to avoid loss of time between two Technical Commission meetings – as the Commission only meets once a month – it was suggested that decisions of affecting available funds can be taken jointly by the concerned Coordinators, Vice Presidents, Technical Commission President, in between two Technical Commission Meetings

                                  

 

 

Projects Presented from India and Thailand   The first two projects have been received yet at the ICG and discussed at the Technical Commission Meeting of February 3rd. The Commission has decided, in collaboration with Coordinators and Vice-Presidents, to distribute all the funds that were available at this date mainly over those projects.   A full summary of the projects and of the decision that have been taken will be presented to you in Asi@news Nb 4.

« The Brothers and Sisters in São Francisco de Assis - Vila Clementino Conference, in São Paulo, Brasil join in prayer and share their grief with those who have suffered from the tragedy that stroke Asia.     May God foster understanding between the peoples, and help everyone to overcome with dignity the challenge that several countries are facing.   Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! »

 

 

Balance of fund movements (in Euros at 7th February 2005)

 

Donor / Recipient	Promised  not yet received	Funds received	Funds Sent	Funds directly sent through twinnings
At 26th January (see Asi@news nb 2)	(110.755)	61,880	2,290.00	72,000
	50,000 remaining
National Council of England / Wales		50,000
National Council of England / Wales to India				60,000
National Council Belgium		10,000
Other councils (Argentina, various USA)		855
National Council Ireland	100,000
Individuals (France)		44
National Council Hong Kong	24,800
National Council Scotland (2nd donation)	50,000
National Council Australia to Thailand				5,900
National Council Indonesia			10,000
National Council Thailand			60,000
National Council India			40,000
Total	214,800			157,900
TOTAL		122,839	112,290
Available at 7th Feb 2005		10,549

Figures may slightly change because of exchange rates and bank costs

 

 

Let’s keep on helping them!

 

All the money raised and sent to the General Council will be forwarded to the countries involved as soon as possible. It is very important that these funds pass through the General Council to ensure good management and good use of these funds which are sometimes vital for precise and definite projects. You can send your funds to:

Société de St. Vincent de Paul Conseil Général International 5, rue du Prés-aux-Clercs 75007 Paris, FRANCE   Or by T/T transfer: Banque CIC- Paris Bac 2 Bd Raspail 75007 Paris, FRANCE   Account Nb. FR76 3006 6100 4100 0105 8120 129 Please specify “For the Asian Disaster fund”

 

Even though a great amount of money is needed, each contribution, no matter how modest, has the same symbolic value; it is a sign of fraternity and solidarity; a small amount sent by a country with little means involves a great effort, which true worth will be appreciated.

                                                          

 

But let us not forget…

The reconstruction is going on in The Philippines, after November 2004 series of disaster (typhoons, landslides and floods)…

In Gujarat, since 2001 earthquake, the Indian SSVP has been repairing more than 410 houses, and constructing more than 400 others…