This newsletter contains an update about our Tsunami Relief efforts in India and Sri Lanka. We have been working in a targeted and specific manner to truly make a difference. PRASAD field workers and volunteers have spent time interacting with the people directly affected by this disaster to find out their real needs. This is important to ensure that PRASAD’s relief work benefits the local population in a manner that is sustainable, locally sound and in consonance with the population’s long term goals.

One of the strategies has been to focus on immediate occupational rehabilitation. An exciting example of this is our work with the local fisherman in the village of Kovalam in Southern India, which has included the repair and rebuilding of their fishing boats. The destruction of these boats had stripped many of their livelihoods. Now they are back on the water within just a month of the disaster – this is a testimony to the excellent work of our staff in the field in India. In order to give you a picture of how things really are at the ground

level, we have included excerpts from Dr. Ranjit Valath’s diary. Dr. Ranjit is a PRASAD aid worker who is currently stationed at Kovalam in Southern India.

Our operations in Sri Lanka have also expanded to the north eastern sector. Dr. Anushri Wagner, a PRASAD medical volunteer, has set up clinics in the Batticoloa region with four other local volunteers. She is based in the Ampara district where over 8500 people were killed and many injured - a lot of them children. Dr. Wagner is a pediatrician by profession and is playing a significant role in the rehabilitation effort.

Thanks to all of you who have been supporting PRASAD and our mission. Your ongoing contributions to this effort are welcome and donations can be made at www.prasad.org

Dennis Taraporewala
Director of Global Communications

Other News:
PRASAD Returns Fishermen
to the Sea
PRASAD Gets Medical Relief to Northeast Sri Lanka
Kovalam Before, During &
After the Tsunami