Relief efforts continue to seek help for the victims of the tsunami.

The death toll from the tsunami continues to rise. Four days after the event, it hovers around 50,000 deaths. And yet, we expect it to rise further. Numerous areas have yet to be accounted for. Officials still have no clue of the damage in one of the largest islands in the Bay of Bengal – Car Nicobar.

Reports from Sri Lanka are largely about damages in the South and South East. Aid agencies and officials are yet to extensively survey the damage in the East and the North East – the effects of a civil war. Tidal waves have washed landmines from this war torn region, displacing them to another part. While the population once knew where the mines were and which area was safe, they have no clue now. Even locals are afraid to venture around.

Dead bodies are still being found, identified, burnt and buried, five days afterwards. This speaks of the numbers that have died. The death tolls will rise further unless we provide appropriate drinking water sources and deal with waters that have collected. Cholera, Malaria and Diarrhea will take their toll.

Aid agencies are trying to provide relief. After they have gone, there will still be children whose parents have disappeared, survivors with their trauma to deal with, with their shelter and livelihoods having also disappeared with receding waves.

All of this, the Tsunami has left.

It has also given us, who were fortunate to be at another place, an opportunity to extend our hand of friendship. Friendship to a people in pain. Help to agencies trying to work to provide short and long term relief.

Relief agencies continue to work. In Sri Lanka, numerous groups working in particular areas have been destroyed. Other groups are struggling to cope with the problems, trying to understand the impact of the chaos and get beyond the shock. Access to the North and North East Sri Lanka is still difficult.

In India, numerous groups have begun to work in various parts of the South Indian coastline, providing drugs, treating patients, taking care of medical needs and providing makeshift shelter, clothes and food.

People are in need of drugs. A list of medical aid that relief groups are looking for include Chlorine Tablets (for disinfection of water), Septran Syrup and Tablets, Flagyl Syrup and Tabs (Metronidazole), Paracetamol Syrup and Tabs, Asthalin Syrup (Salbutomol) + Tabs (Theo Asthalin), Mebendazole, Cough Syrup, Brufen tablets / Diclofenac, Metronidazole, Sanitary Napkins, Doxycyclin Capsules, Ampicillin Capsules, Soframycin Ointment, Nasivion Nose Drops, ORS, Calamine Lotion, Amoxycyclin 250mg (Amoxycillin), anti Histamines (Avil CPM / cetrizine), Derephyllin
Tabs, Ibuprofen ointment / Diclofenac ointment.

If you are in South Asia, and are looking to help, you can send drugs or checks to either India or Sri Lanka. You could organize collection campaigns from your neighborhoods or contact local doctors, hospitals and pharmacists for drugs and mail them.

The Chennai office of Association for India’s Development, a group that has worked on issues of education, health, empowerment of women and children, human rights and peace, is accepting checks made to Association for India’s Development, or drugs. This group had been involved in relief and rehabilitation of cyclone victims in Orissa, as well as earthquake and riot victims in Gujarat. It has volunteers on the ground and is working in a loose coalition with numerous other organizations groups to provide relief and longer term rehabilitation.

Association for India’s Development
Old 132, New 142, Avvai Shanmugam Road,
Gopalapuram, Chennai-600 086

Child Vision, an organization based out of Puttalam in Sri Lanka and has worked with destitute women and children is organizing relief and rehabilitation work. All donations can be made to the Destitute Children's Welfare Fund (DCWF). Account Name: Child Vision-Destitute Children's Welfare Fund, Account number: 165-006790-8, Banker: People's Bank, Puttalam Branch, Kurunegala Road, Puttalam - Sri Lanka.

Child Vision,
No.35, Grand Mosque Road,
Puttalam, Sri Lanka.
Phone/Fax: 094 32 22 67457, 094 32 22 66136 & Mobile: 094 77 7 941867
Email: childvision@sltnet.lk and rumaizpt@sltnet.lk

If you are in the USA or Europe, you can help with funds. Please visit www.aidindia.org to reach out to victims in India or for victims in Sri Lanka http://www.laktel.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=pay

- Sanat Mohanty