An Appeal from the Association of Francisan Families of India, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Region for the Victims of Tsunami
Association of the Franciscan Families of India – Regional unit of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry states
The Association of the Franciscan Families of India is a national level networking of all Franciscans of India. This has worked during the Gujarat Earth Quake in 2002. Ever since, these congregations have come together to undertake various activities like animation, social commitments and updating of Franciscan life style in Indian Context.
The Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Region has around 4000 Priests, Brothers and sisters belonging to various Franciscan Congregations. There are also few thousands of Secular Franciscan Order – both men and women in these states. This team has an executive committee that sees to the necessary coordination for Formation, social activities and spiritual animation in these two states.
Special need to respond to the Tsunami victims
We have been challenged by the greatest tragedy in these states on 26th December, 2004 in the form of Tsunami that has killed more than 15 thousand people and the death rate is still on the increase. This may go upto 50 thousand. All these took place in few minutes. It has also rendered more than 60 thousand people without home, relations, belongings etc. They are totally dependant to the mercy, care and concern of others.
Since majority of the Tsunami victims belong to the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, we, the members of TNP-AFFI have come together to take up this cause as one family and work together as Franciscans. However, already almost all the Franciscan congregations have entered directly into the villages and coastal areas to do the emergency relief measures.
Emergency Meeting of the TNP- AFFI
The delegates of TNP-AFFI have come together for an emergency meeting on Sunday, 2nd January, 2005 to review the present activities as well as to plan for the short term and long term mission for the Tsunami victims.
The Tsunami disaster victims in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in India are already above 40 thousand and still the number is not certain as many more dead bodies are being recovered. As Franciscans brothers and sisters of different Franciscan Orders and congregation we are already in the field, seeing to the immediate relief works. We, along with other people of goodwill are responding to the situation at various levels. But we feel unanimously that a Franciscan response should to go much beyond this. Therefore a preparatory meeting consisting of the delegates of Tamilnadu Pondicherry Association of Franciscan Family of Indian (TNP-AFFI) came together at Nirmala Convent in Chennai on 2nd January 2005 to think aloud and chalk out a further program of action. Accordingly we have planned for an action plan on 11th January at the Capuchin Provincialate, Trichy.
An ad-hoc committee of experts from Franciscan Families of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (Lawyers, Professional social workers and social animators) from various fields was formed with 15 persons.
The measures already undertaken
The delegates reported about their immediate relief works done by their respective congregations.
- Medical Aid, supply of basic provisions like food, clothing and utensils.
- Making a survey of the present situation
- Counselling to the depressed people
- Burying the dead
- Cleaning the area and creating a conducive living situation.
- Some congregations have already sent their members as well as those under formation to reside in the affected areas as well as to be with the people in agony.
The activities yet to be done
- Need to plan a long term service and ministry among the affected people
- Sending personnel and experts in medical and social field for relief works
- Developmental activities for their future – Employment, education, adoption of the orphan boys and girls
- Housing and infrastructure
- Sanitation and medical assistance
- Taking care of the widows and the elders
- Education of the children
- employment opportunities for fishermen - fishing boats, nets and other means of livelihood
- Employment opportunities for women for their sustenance
- Counselling for the mentally depressed due to tsunami
Tapping local resources
In view of immediate assistance, the TNP-AFFI has sent letters through the letter of the AFFI President, to all the Franciscan families to contribute in cash and kind for the victims. The financial assistance they provide will be spent for the relief works.
Request for help to the Tsunami Victims
In view of executing the above plan of action, the Franciscan Families of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry have come together to undertake the relief and rehabilitation work in these two states. Even though as a first step the congregations have undertaken emergency measures, there is a great need to concentrate on long term rehabilitation and reconstruction works in the states.
Hence we would like to approach you for financial assistance of whatever amount needed for long term undertaking. Please send us whatever amount possible at the earliest for immediate relief works. However, we would be happy to get your helps for our rehabilitation and reconstruction. This could be sent even by instalment. Regarding this we will be able to send you a detailed project in a few days time. Until then we would like you to reserve your possible financial assistance to support our long-term Inter-Franciscan Family projects in favour of the Tsunami victims.
We solicit a matching response from you to the sudden and devastating Tsunami that robbed the life and joy of people living in the cost lands and shattered the joy and peace of each one of us.
The amounts that you contribute will be created as a fund for the relief and rehabilitation of victims of Natural Calamity (Tsunami). By the Association of the Franciscan families in India (AFFI.)
The amount that you contribute will be allocated By AFFI – For emergency help and relief for the victims of Tsunami in India and for the efforts to link up relief work with rehabilitation and follow up. The fund will be utilized for the following purposes.
- Purchase of medicines, food, cloths, and kitchen utensils, Tarpaulins, blankets, tents, building and sanitation materials, equipments, Household articles and such other materials.
- It may also be utilized for meeting the expenses of volunteers towards traveling and training focused on accompanying the traumatized victims, like Counseling, group therapy, team building, Crisis/ Disaster Management, etc as well as for boarding and lodging, postage and telephone, and all expenses related with the work of relief and rehabilitation including payment of salaries to staff, workers, purchase of office equipment, tents, rent for premises, vehicles, etc.
- It may also be utilized for purchase of education and study materials for children, for facilitating education (including Vocational education) of children, youth, women, adult literacy programs; social-economic programs, life coping skills, self-employment programs, micro-credit, income-generation programs, purchase of fishing boats and nets and any other purpose which will benefit the victims of this calamity.
- It may also be utilized for any other expenses directly or indirectly connected with the relief and rehabilitation work that will benefit the victims of Natural calamities. Like Documentation, liaison agents for getting, grants, procuring lost records and certificates and documents from concerned offices to the concerned victims like Ration card, Election I.D. Birth /Death certificates documents on properties and assets, banks and insurances etc. with the objective of enabling an Independent Existence for these unfortunate brothers and sisters of ours.
With love and prayers and thanking you in advance for your kindness and generosity,
I remain your brother in Francis
Fr. Divakar OFM. Cap
Minister Provincial
President of TNP-AFFI
3rd, January, 2005
Appeal for Relief Works for the Victims of Tsunami Disaster
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Francis of Assisi,
Wishes of Peace and all Good in this New Year to you all! We have been challenged by the greatest tragedy in these states on 26th December, 2004 in the form of Tsunami that has killed more than 15 thousand people and the death rate is still on the increase. This may go upto 50 thousand. All these took place in few minutes. It has also rendered more than 60 thousand people without home, relations, belongings etc. They are totally dependant to the mercy, care and concern of others.
Since majority of the Tsunami victims belong to the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, the Franciscan Families of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (AFFI-TNP) are taking up lot of measures to give immediate and long standing relief works. An emergency meeting consisting of the delegates of Tamilnadu Pondicherry AFFI came together at Nirmala Convent in Chennai on 2nd January 2005 to think aloud and chalk out a further program of action.
Relief works already undertaken by the Franciscans:
At present the relief measures undertaken are on Medical Aid, supply of basic provisions like food, clothing and utensils, Burying the dead (Still bodies are unearthed), Sanitation and offering a conducive situation to live etc. Some congregations have already sent their members to reside in the affected areas to serve the people in agony.
There is still a great need for counselling for the mentally depressed. Many more are yet to be done such as education, adoption of the orphan boys and girls, Housing and infrastructure, medical assistance, Taking care of the widows and elders, Education of the children, employment opportunities for fishermen like fishing boats and nets, Counselling for the mentally depressed etc.
Request for Financial Assistance:
Even though the Congregations have undertaken emergency measures, there is a great need for long term rehabilitation works. Hence we would like to approach you for financial assistance of whatever amount needed. Please request also the members of your educational and medical institutions to contribute towards this work.
The Tsunami Relief work will be undertaken by the Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Unit of the AFFI. Hence you may send your financial help directly to TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND – TNP-AFFI, A/C 55766, Punjab National Bank, Trichy – 1. Hence you may also request other friends and companies to contribute towards this. Please send the cheque or DD to Fr. Provincial, Tsunami Relief Fund, Gananalaya, 26, Birds Road, Trichy- 620001, Tamil Nadu. (Tel: +91-431-2411463, Fax: +91-431-2415397)
Requesting your solidarity and generosity,
I remain yours in Francis
Fr. Divakar OFM.Cap
President, Association of Franciscan Families of India, Tamil Nadu – Pondicherry Region
