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7,000 tsunami victims buried in Nagapattinam Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu), January 3 The relief coordinators in these two districts which were devastated by Sunday’s tsunami had no option but to bury large amounts of cooked food sent by many organisations since it had turned stale. Nagapattinam, 250 km from the state capital of Chennai, is the worst hit in mainland India with around 7000 persons buried in mass graves, according to official figures and many still missing. But the actual figure of dead is probably double. In Cuddalore more than 800 persons died and the figure of missing people is more than 100. The day after the tsunami hit on December 26 there was no option for the district administrations but to distribute cooked food and people were forced to accept it and eat. But within two days people started rejecting cooked food as mothers refused to feed their children with stale food. The cooked food also created problems as people suffered from indigestion and many had dysentery. The Zonal Relief Coordinator for this area who is also IT Secretary, Mr Vivek Hariharan, today appealed to the people not to send either cooked food or old clothes. He said: “Huge amounts of cooked food and a large number of old and torn clothes are creating a logistic problem for us. In case of cooked food we do not know when it was cooked and it was mostly food which was either in excess for people who donated or leftovers.” “If at all you want to help then, send uncooked food like rice, dal and condiments. There are functioning kitchens at all 16 relief centres and food can be cooked there.” “The same goes for used or old clothes. These people who are affected mostly belong to the fishermen community and maintained a high standard of living. They are not willing to accept old and torn clothes.” Mr Hariharan felt that the need of the hour was solar lanterns, disposable syringes and antibiotics to treat eye-ailments and stomach disorders. “Packaged water is most urgently needed,” he said. In almost all relief centres you come across heaps of old clothes donated by well-meaning people but the hapless victims of Sunday’s tsunami refused even to touch them.” These displaced people have lost all their belongings, including their clothes. The only set they have is what they are wearing but they find it below their esteem to wear clothes that are used. Said Rajasekharan, a 38-year-old fisherman, “A majority of our youths have grown up comfortably and wore expensive clothes. The shirts and trousers they wear each cost at least Rs 500. They belong to the modern world and want to catch up with the latest trend. We earned well and will not want to wear such used clothes.” He admits that the heaps of clothes might go waste but laments, “We have been repeatedly asking the donors and voluntary agencies not to off-load used garments here. But they are still doing it, saying that other tsunami victims have rejected them too.” Another fisherman complained, “While we respect the gesture of the people who donated for us, we wish they also respect our dignity though we might be paupers now following nature’s fury.” A relief official said: “We sympathise with them and you cannot force things on people who have lost everything, including their near and dear ones. We are requesting people to donate new clothes.” Some voluntary organisations have immediately responded and to respect the sentiments of the victims donated over 5,000 brand new T-shirts, 6,000 sarees, 4,000 dhotis, 2,000 children’s wear and other dress materials. However, to resolve this pressing problem an NGO from Kerala has come to the aid of relief coordinators. Their workers are now collecting old clothes and after washing and ironing them making it presentable for the victims. Clothes which are torn will be stitched and once made presentable will be donated to those living below the poverty line, orphanages and old age homes. All these clothes are now being sorted and those beyond repair will be recycled in mills and auctioned the proceeds of which will be donated to the Collectors’ Relief Fund.  |
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