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India

Tsunami recovery programme in India

19/12/2006: DanChurchAid has made its best efforts to respond to the Asian tsunami, addressing immediate humanitarian needs of the survivors and is in the process of supporting rehabilitation and recovery efforts. The tsunami recovery programme will continue until the end of 2008.

Boats on the beach, Annichankuppam village, Pondicherry, India 2005

DanChurchAid (DCA) was one of the key organisations, which provided immediate support for the tsunami victims in Asia.

DCA extended humanitarian aid for relief and rehabilitation of tsunami survivors in India and Sri Lanka through its existing partners from the very first day of the disaster, through its yearly allocation for disaster response. The funds were channelled to partners directly as well as via ACT International .

Focus on rebuilding damaged communities and reconstructing sustainable livelihood activities

For DCA the overall focus for our tsunami recovery programme is on the dalit communities. The programme will continue until the end of 2008. Since the first emergency phase, where immediate relief and temporary shelters was provided, the focus is now on rebuilding the damaged communities and reconstructing sustainable livelihoods. The livelihood activities, such as provision of mico-credits, establishment of community centres, and support to income generation activities, has been complemented with activities to strengthen dalit community mobilisation, governance and political participation.

Working through local partners

Prior to the tsunami, DCA had a large network of Indian partner organisations, working among other places in Tamil Nadu, and focusing among other things on the elimination of caste discrimination, promotion of basic rights for dalits and food security. When the tsunami hit the Indian coastline these were also the partners that immediately got involved in the relief operations that literally started just a few hours after the first wave had hit. Because of DCA partner organisations like Peoples Watch Tamilnadu (PW-TN), Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC) and Society for Rural Education and Development (SRED), DCA was able to reach out and assist dalit communities also during the first critical weeks of the tsunami operation.