South Asia Tsunami Death Toll to Exceed 150,000
The death toll from last week’s quake-tsunami devastation is expected to exceed 150,000 as more bodies have been uncovered in Indonesia, the country worst hit by the deadliest disaster in almost three decades.
The death toll from last week’s quake-tsunami devastation is expected to exceed 150,000 as more bodies have been uncovered in Indonesia, the country worst hit by the deadliest disaster in almost three decades.
According to recent reports, Indonesia raised its death toll to more than 94,000 as rescuers reached remote areas in Aceh province for the first time. Meanwhile, aid began to reach the survivors as ships, planes and helicopters bearing food, clothing, clean water and medicines converged on Indonesia and other countries.
Officials in Sri Lanka added 1,026 more to the death toll and said 5,540 people still missing were likely to be declared dead, bringing the figure there to 35,000. Casualty figures were still being reported from affected areas along the country's north and south coasts. Nearly 17,000 were injured and almost one million people were displaced and living in temporary camps at schools and religious places.
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In Thailand, the death toll from tsunamis that hit the nation's six southern coastal provinces rose to 5,046 today—about half of which have been overseas tourists, the Disaster Prevention Department said yesterday. About 3,810 people remain missing and 8,457 were injured, the department added.
In India, at least 9,451 people died in four states and the Andaman and Nicobar islands, with at least 5,511 people still missing, a government official said today. Meanwhile, more than 386,000 people have taken shelter in at least 551 camps that have been set up, according to V.P. Pasrija, a consultant at India's National Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), the official arm of 24 Protestant and Orthodox Churches in India, expressed its grief and anguish at the devastation caused by the tsunami disaster in large parts of coastal south India. “CASA stands in solidarity with the people of the region as they come to terms with the situation, and also with all those aid workers who are engaged in rendering rescue and relief assistance in the disaster area,” the agency wrote.
With over 57 years experience in managing humanitarian aid and operational areas in 22 states of India, CASA has been assisting those who survived the tsunami in India’s Nagapattanam district, bringing relief by distributing material aid.
CASA has already completed an emergency feeding program through the local church networks, reaching thousands of people in the most affected areas. Distribution of food and non-food items to assist 50,000 families started first thing this morning, with families in the Nagapattanam area receiving tarpaulins.
The agency reports that the next three days will see a rollout of other distributions in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. CASA has set up five regional response teams, three in Tamil Nadu, one in Andhra Pradesh, and one in Kerala. Beneficiaries are being identified with the help of community leaders). In Tamil Nadu alone, CASA will bring assistance to some 40 villages along the coastline, serving 30,000 families.
After the crisis phase relief efforts, CASA plans to rehabilitate houses and people's livelihoods, which will happen over a period of two years. CASA also plans to implement its community-based disaster preparedness program, which has proved successful in many other parts of India, where CASA traditionally responds to disasters.
