PRASAD Helps Devastated Sri Lankans Rebuild Their Lives

The massive tsunami that struck Southeast Asia on December 26th devastated Weligama, a town on the island of Sri Lanka. “Everything within two miles of the coast was flattened,” said Mabel Au-Yeung from Hong Kong, who was in Weligama when the tsunami hit. “Boats and sharks were washed onto the road, bridges collapsed and cars were overturned. Seeing the destruction was like watching a disaster movie, but in real life.”

Thousands of houses were damaged; 2,015 were completely destroyed. Along with their homes, the people of Weligama lost mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and children. In some cases, entire families were drowned or taken out to sea. Over 300 people died, and many more were still missing, as of December 30, 2004. Read More

Eye witness accounts
   Weligama in the Wake of the Tsunami
   The Aftermath in Weligama

PRASAD AID PUTTING FISHERMEN BACK TO SEA IN INDIA

Dear PRASAD,

This is the first letter that I am writing to you since our organization ‘Help for the Helpless’ forged a partnership with PRASAD on 2nd January '05, to rehabilitate the communities ravaged by the tsunami on the 26th December '04. I hope that you will be kind enough to forgive this long delay in my writing to you. The only reason for this delay is that I and my team of volunteers have been spending almost all our time with the affected people and providing them with relief materials.

Let me at first thank you and your great organization PRASAD for identifying us as a partner organization in extending your love and generosity to those affected by the tsunami. I have come to know that PRASAD has been providing excellent service to humanity in many different ways, fulfilling diverse areas of human need. Let's pray and work hard together to make this partnership truly fruitful and beneficial for all those who await our service at this point of history. Read More

	PRASAD Sponsors Medical Team in War-Torn Region of Sri Lanka

The region was badly hit by the tsunami. Before the disaster struck, many of the people there were living in conditions of poverty. A civil war – between the rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the government - has waged in the region for the last twenty years. People were already living in refugee camps; their health was poor. On top of it all came the devastating tsunami.

Braving danger, and not knowing what to expect, Anushri and David are going to Batticaloa to offer medical help as PRASAD volunteers. They are the first of a series of resident doctors from Mt Sinai who will provide ongoing care to the people of the Batticaloa region over a period of several months. Read More