As many of you know, the long term effects of the Tsunami effort are still being assessed. Organizations like Association for India's Development (AID) have from the very outset of the diaster taken the initiative to work with their existing NGO partners on the ground in the immediate relief efforts. The costs are surmountable. Currently, the costs are assessed at five million dollars just in the Chennai area. Fisher families have been completely displaced and they have lost their homes, assets and livelihoods. AID is working on a cooperative scheme with the fisher families to help them rebuild and restore their assets. We can do our part here to raise the awareness about the affected families and provide our financial support to help them rebuild their lives.

The damage is unprecedented. AID is working on immediate relief activities like buying stoves for people to boil water for clean water, building temporary toilets for immediate sanitation needs etc. We are also assessing and planning how to transition from relief to rehabilitation activities.

AID Chennai has setup several relief camps and distribution centers. They have organized a scheme for delivery of resources to the most needy and marginalized. They are working with NGOs like Malar and TNSF (Tamil Nadu Science Forum) who have had a presence for over 2 decades in the affected areas. AID has over the past decade built a strong trust and working relationship with this and many other such organizations. This provides organizations like AID the ability to make inroads into areas where typical relief efforts might not reach or where it would be difficult to cooperate with affected communities.

For an up to date photo journal of AID's work in Chennai, please go here.
For current relief efforts by AID in India, please visit http://survivors.aidindia.org