Tsunami 01/07

Photo Essay: ACT members continue three-year response to the tsunami

GENEVA, August 8, 2007—As the three-year mark of the tsunami approaches, the response by ACT members continues to impact tsunami-affected families through assistance, including livelihood development, housing construction and disaster preparedness.

Sri Lanka : Rebuilding livelihoods

A staff member of Mr. Ajith prepares bread dough for baking. Photo by Michelle Yonetani/ACT International.

In Sri Lanka, Mr. Ajith lost his entire bakery business when the tsunami struck at the end of 2004. His family survived by sheltering against the back of the bakery as the waters rushed past. Inside the bakery, he lost all the tools of his trade and was no longer able to provide for his family or those he employed.

Through assistance from ACT member, the National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka (NCCSL), Mr. Ajith has been able to restart his business and continue to employ staff. He said, “The business is now up and going and I am now able to earn an income as I was before the tsunami.” He has also been able to purchase a motorbike to make deliveries with new income earned, since he re-opened his business with support from NCCSL.

Mrs. and Mr. Amarasingha talk with a customer at their re-established store. Photo by Michelle Yonetani/ACT International.

Both Mrs. and Mr. Amarasingha barely survived the tsunami. Mr. Amarasingha was swept away by the waters, but saved himself by hanging onto a coconut tree, while his wife was able to flee to the local temple on higher ground. After the waters receded, life presented a whole new set of challenges. Everything in their store was washed away destroying their only source of income.

As part the livelihood assistance NCCSL is providing to Sri Lankans affected by the tsunami, Mrs. and Mr. Amarasingha were given weighing scales and other provisions to help them begin earning an income again. While assistance to families has helped them generate income, the ongoing conflict in the eastern and northern parts of the country has impacted the tourist trade and overall economy in the entire country. Mrs. Amarasingha said, “Our business is growing again now and we are able to make a living, but our income is much less than before the tsunami.”

India : Constructing homes

Villagers in Adavula Deevi map out future housing construction. Photo by Charles Dhinakaran/UECLI-ACT International.

ACT member United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UECLI) has also continued its assistance to families through housing construction. The remote village of Adavula Deevi in Andhra Pradesh was badly damaged and families were left with significant needs. This past month, UELCI began a housing project to construct new 330 square-foot (30.65 square meter) houses for the 50 families in the village and is also employing villagers to assist with the work.

Indonesia : Empowering children

Children in Lorong 8 are taught what to do in natural distasters in ways they can understand. Photo by YEU-ACT International.

In Indonesia, ACT member YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) is helping the next generation to prepare for future disasters. Through a children educational center in Lorong 8, the YEU team teaches 50 children about the signs of earthquakes and tsunamis in ways they can understand. Through this education, the children learn what to do in emergencies and where to seek safety in a region that is prone to natural disasters.

ACT members throughout the region are responding to the tsunami with financial support from the global alliance for an ACT appeal totaling USD $108,066,363 for the countries of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Somalia. The response in Somalia came to an end in May of 2007.

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Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.