Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: Thanks to its long-term presence in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, Terre des Hommes was able to respond from day one to the acute needs of the victims, providing emergency aid in the form of food delivery, medication, shelter, water and sanitation, and protection measures for separated and disabled children.
One year ago, South Asia was hit by one of the most violent earthquakes and subsequent tsunami ever. In just a few minutes, human beings, homes and livelihoods were submerged under water. The devastation caused by these natural disasters, spreading as far as the East Coast of Africa, claimed more than 260 000 lives and left countless children injured and homeless. Thanks to its long-term presence in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, Terre des Hommes was able to respond from day one to the acute needs of the victims, providing emergency aid in the form of food delivery, medication, shelter, water and sanitation, and protection measures for separated and disabled children. The reconstruction phase has now begun. Terre des Hommes is restoring livelihoods for fishing communities, rebuilding houses and schools. It is providing psycho-social support to children through activities designed to work through their fears. Terre des Hommes acts in tune with local realities, and works to empower communities in the reconstruction of their villages. It is estimated that 300 000 people have benefited from the Terre des Hommes emergency and rehabilitation programmes, more than half of whom are children. The Terre des Hommes organisations have received a total of about €44.5 million. Depending on the organisation, between 40% and 70% of donations have been spent during the first year and the rest has been allocated to mid- and long-term rehabilitation programmes. Terre des Hommes has been present for a long time in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and will remain long after the tsunami, to ensure sustainable recovery in key areas such as education, health care and child protection. Since the tsunami, Terre des Hommes has responded to other natural disasters such as Hurricane Stan in Central America and the South Asian earthquake, and it is continually striving to improve the quality of its emergency operations.
“It takes time to rebuild lives”, said Raffaele Salinari, Chairman of the International Federation Terre des Hommes, “one of the main emphases of our work has been on ensuring that populations can remain on their land and avoid displacement. We also provide psycho-social support to children affected by the disaster, and help them develop the strength to cope with their trauma. We stand alongside fishing communities to support their rights to decent work”.
Terre des Hommes has striven to reach neglected areas and marginalised groups. A significant effort is made to coordinate work with other NGOs and local authorities. For example, Terre des Hommes has been appointed by the Sri Lankan authorities to coordinate the distribution of medical services in one of the worst hit regions. In Thailand, the Terre des Hommes programme is supported by the Ministry of Fisheries.