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| Wednesday, 9 February 2005 |
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The Vakarai experience - an eye opener by Sivanandini Duraiswamy On December 26th tsunami hit the shores of Sri Lanka relentlessly and it was with profound sorrow that we received the news of this colossal human tragedy of huge proportions. Mother Earth generally nourishes and sustains us.
However, her rumblings, sudden tremors and tidal waves are very frightening for no other natural event could be so disastrous over so large an area in so short a time. These natural laws are infallible and seem to bow in obeisance to some mysterious power and we in turn have to accept this natural outcome. We are all distraught by the extent of the human tragedy. As mothers we are appalled at the proportion of the tragedy - thousands of children washed away, thousands more orphaned, thousands of families washed away or rendered homeless. And we stand helpless at nature's awesome action. Tsunami has taught all of us in Sri Lanka a vital lesson that Hinduism repeatedly teaches us -"nothing is permanent in this world and one should endeavour to realise and move on from the unreal to the real."
Until the northeast conflict began this was a very peaceful fishing village. Since then the villagers have lived along the conflict zone in fear and anxiety. Tsunami lashed its shores creating unbelievable shock and pain amongst its people. Even in good times these poor people need help to get by from day to day. Today this uncleared area is vulnerable to epidemics, essentially due to malnutrition, lack of sanitation, transport and shelter. Tsunami invaded this quiet village and a number of people have lost their livelihood and stand today with bleak prospects of rebuilding their shattered lives. There are about 19,000 people in the entire hamlet with the LTTE in control of the area. The coastal belt has a population of about 4,000 and Vakarai North another 2,500. There are five camps with over thousands of refugees in each and the health facilities are very poor with toilet or two at the most in each camp! The Malaysian medical team under the aegis of the Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka stepped into Vakarai having been sent by the medical authorities of health in Batticaloa. We in the Chinmaya Mission stepped into the breach with the second batch of doctors and with more medical supplies. We came in well before the government or any other aid organisation. We also understand that a team of medical students from the Jaffna, Moratuwa and Jayawardene Universities are on a mobile volunteer team working along the entire coastal belt. As we passed through we realised that the scale of the tragedy is the heaviest in human terms. The needs assessment survey is important to target our relief efforts. As we understood, cooking utensils, regular supply of dry rations, children's clothing, uniforms, shoes, books, schoolbags, clothing for all, together with sanitary towels, soaps etc. were mentioned as important items. Some suggested that we also give them some of the fishing gear so that they could commence fishing. The damage is clearly not of a material kind. There are obvious psychological issues that need to be addressed. The after effects of the psychological impact that these people experienced will be felt much later perhaps in the most unexpected ways. We saw women seated outside their make-shift tents looking for forlorn and saying very little. On asking one said, "My house was of wattle and mud and it was washed away together with all that we had saved in life." Another said, "Everything was washed away and we just escaped by running further inland." "We are fisher folk earning a livelihood by fishing and selling them in the market. Our fishing gear has gone. I am not sure whether we would go back to the sea to fish. Now what do we do?" said a third woman in a very timid voice. I am haunted by the eyes of these women. They speak of desolation and despair. Tsunami in its wake has left destruction and hopelessness. Quiet desperation has now set in and for those who have lost their loved ones, nothing we say or do can remove the horror of it. What remains is for us to hope that they will come through. Along with our donations of food, clothing, water, medical facilities and money, these people need our help to get back on their feet; our loving concern and patient assistance. The doctors, counsellors and lay people of the Malaysian team exude warmth and dynamism which are contagious. Some of us decided that we too should get into the fray and see for ourselves the exact position. This was an experience never to be forgotten. The members of the team are on a rotation basis and every two weeks a new set of doctors come bringing with them more medical supplies and money and young energy with a firm determination that they would see the people recover their lost lives and their dignity. During our conversation with the LTTE doctors who were covering this area affected by tsunami, we realised that Vakarai consists of five coastal units and three units further inland of which Kattumurivu is totally neglected. This unit is about 19 kilometres away from the centre of Vakarai and could be reached only by road with no buses enroute. The road itself is very bad and is made worse by the continuous rains. We were told that no doctors go to this area and requested us that the team of Malaysian doctors visit the area. There are 300 LTTE families living here. Very young mothers with little babies attended the clinic that we had organised. The children and the mothers are malnourished. This unit is very backward-back of the beyond and needs urgent attention. Our life is caught up in this whirlwind of tragedy and Hinduism teaches us that it is during such trials and grave crises in our country that the greatest gifts of human spirit are manifested. Our ability and services are needed and we should be steady and strengthen ourselves and go to the rescue of our people. May we pray that the Lord Almighty assuages this universal anguish and bereavement. In the words of Tagore may the Lord's silent steps traverse Vakarai and. ".......it is His steps that press upon. Our hearts and it is the golden touch of His Feet. That would rebuild the coastal area for those simple people." Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. |
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| Security Produced by Lake House |
On
January 14 we were in Vakari, a small coastal village on the outskirts of
the Batticaloa district athwart the Vikari bridge which links the North
with the East of Sri Lanka. This bridge collapsed in the tsunami thereby
cutting off the Batticaloa mainland and Vakari.
