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Name
Roqayah
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
How hard hit was India relative to other countries in the region? What affected India more, the earthquake or the tsunami?
Thank you
Answer
Five states and union territory were affected. The total population affected was 2.72 million. In terms of human life, 10,136 were lost. About 2,600 more are missing. This is the data as of yesterday. More than the earthquake which had ocurred before the water surface, it was the tsunami that wreaked havoc and destruction.
The relief operations had started immediately since the civilian as well as army establishments have swung into operation immediately, not only in India but also in the neighboring Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia a bit later.
Within hours of the disaster striking, Indian aircraft as well as ships moved into Sri Lanka at their request and thereafter 10 ship deployments, 20 aircraft sorties, were undertaken in Sri Lanka for ferrying about 210 tons of relief material for Sri Lanka alone.
With regard to medical assisatance again, a medical team had been airlifted to Sri Lanka, as well as medical camps were established there.
A forty bedded naval hospital ship took care of the medical facilities required by them. This is in addition to the daily transportation of relief materials as required.
Name
Zubeir
- Bangladesh
Profession
Question
Hello,
Which regions in India were hardest hit by the tsunami?
Answer
The hardest hit were the Andaman and Nicobar islands, followed by Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andra Pradesh, and Kerala.
The maximum damage cost is in the Andaman and Nicobar island group in which several islands had been completely washed. The jetties had been destroyed completely making relief operations very difficult. In addition to that, numerous indigenous tribes in Nicobar had their way of life uprooted.
In Tamil Nadu the hardest hit area were Nagapappinam where 6,000 people were dead, and entire fishing communities had lost their livelihood as well as profession.
Name
Kalindi
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Dear Mr. Shyam,
My question is about aid to India. How much aid has India received so far for its victims, and how much more does it need?
Answer
Since we found that we were in a position to manage the situation ourselves, and with the view to help others more hard hit, we had declined assitance in relief operations. However, we are interested in working with relief agencies worldwide in rehabilitation and rebuilding the livelihood of those affected in the long-term. At the moment, there are several UN agencies already present in India and international NGOs who are carrying out relief operations.
Name
Joanne
- United States
Profession
Question
What kind of damage has been done to India's infrastructure? How long will it take to do the necessary reconstruction? Thanks.
Answer
Please refer to our previous answer for some of the information regarding this question.
In Andamar and Nicobar islands, many islands have been entirely washed. The livelihoods of those people have been shattered and therefore, the phase II of the rehabilitation operation is going to take quite some time.
In the main land, rehabilitation efforts would involve rebuilding houses as well as restoring the assets of the fishermen community who have lost everything.
Name
Ghusoon
- Lebanon
Profession
Question
I have read that the Indian government intends to initiate a tsunami-warning system, which of course is crucial now. My question is, have they taken serious steps in doing this and are the other Asian countries going to be involved or is this soley an Indian project?
Isn't it necessary that all the countries in the region are able to contact each other and send warning signals to their neighbours when disasters like this happen or are likely to happen?
Answer
We are indeed serious to establish a tsunami-warning system working in close coordination with other countries in the region. Indeed it is in our collective interest to share information and warnings on real time.
The Prime Minister of India has already announced that we are going to have the tsunami warning system in place and necessary efforts in collaborating with other countries in acquiring the technical know-how has already begun.
Name
Sonali
- India
Profession
Question
I feel terrible at the situation in Asia right now and I would like to help. Could you tell me of ways to help. Also, what will happen to the indian refugees now? Will they migrate to the larger cities or will the government compensate them for their lost homes somewhere else?
Answer
All contributions by Indians may be sent to the Prime Minister's relief fund. We are trying our best to help the affected rebuild their lives without having to go elsewhere.
The refugees have slowly started moving out of the relief camps on their own volition and the government has started contributing the necessary aid to help build houses and restore the livelihood- of nets, boats as well as fishing jetties.
Name
Melik
- Turkey
Profession
Question
Will some of the indian orphans be taken outside india to be raised by foreigners (by adoption and such)? How does the Indian government feel about this?
Answer
We are not in favor of allowing the Indian orphans being sent elsewhere for adoption at the moment. The Prime Minister has already indicated that the first priority in rehabilitation would be the orphans and widowed women.
Name
Khaled
-
Profession
Question
I find it hard to understand why India insisted on rejecting foreign help to combat the natural disaster, would you, please, explain that to me?
Answer
I wish to reiterate that we have not followed an isolationist policy by rejecting aid. What we wanted to signal in declining aid was to help direct the much needed assistance to other countries in much greater need than as ourselves.
I'm sure you'll appreciate that not only were we able get into the relief operation in the affected areas soon after the disaster, but were also in a position to help neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia.
The idea of declining aid was to help extend a hand to our other friends in distress, affected to a magnitude greater than ourselves.
Name
Fen
- China
Profession
Question
As an Indian, what is your opinion about relief organizations that go to these disaster-stricken coutries with the intention of converting people wthrought missionary work?
Answer
We, in India, have been having several UN agencies at work as also several international NGOs who are doing excellent work in carrying out relief operations in close coordination with our authorities.
Name
Nala
- Algeria
Profession
Question
Dear Sir,
I would like to ask about India's role in creating a Tsunami warning system in south Asia region, is'nt it became a must after the disaster?
Answer
We are indeed serious to establish a tsunami-warning system working in close coordination with other countries in the region. Indeed it is in our collective interest to share information and warnings on real time.
The Prime Minister of India has already announced that we are going to have the tsunami warning system in place and necessary efforts in collaborating with other countries in acquiring the technical know-how has already begun.
Name
Kareem
- Somalia
Profession
Question
what are the main health problems the tsunamis survivers are suffring in India, and what are the procedures taken to overcome this problems?
Answer
One aspect of relief work is to prevent the outbreak of epidemics; thankfully we have had none yet mainly due to the timely efforts to immunize against cholera and dysentry. This measure accompanied by an efficient system of disposal of dead bodies has helped maintain hygiene conditions.
Name
Abu Shehab
- Egypt
Profession
Question
We heard reports about foreign governments, somehow, knowing about the Tsunamis triggered by the quake, some time before the disaster did strike, do you have any comment on that? Please, no diplomatic answer!
Answer
At the moment we do not have a tsunami warning in place and given the nature of the phenomenon without a censor in place it might be possible to predict the direction or amplitude of a tsunami with any degree of certainty.
All undersea earthquakes do not result in a tsunami and once such a system is in place we might be in a better position to forewarn us about it.
Name
Sara
-
Profession
Question
What are the economic and political implications of the Tsunamis on India?
Answer
Entire livelihoods have been destroyed apart from the life of human life, fishing communities have been displaced; geography of some islands have been altered. The loss in economic terms is therefore yet to be totally assessed. It is expected to be significant.
The spontaneous outpouring of help from various corners of the globe only proves the point that human lives are more valuable and nations around the world rally support in case of distress.
Name
Linda
- Taiwan
Profession
Question
I read that the environmental impact of the tsunami is great. I would like to know how this has affected India, from the environmental aspect. Has there been any uprooting of natural habitats or conservation sites?
Will this affect the fishing community?
Answer
The environmental impact has been tremendous;geography of islands have been altered, sea water has salinated drinking water sources, entire habitats have been altered, and indigenous communities in the Nicobar islands have been affected to a greater magnitude.
Name
Ali
- Australia
Profession
Question
Hello,
Some rumors have been circulating in the media that the tsunami might have been initiated by nuclear experiments under the ocean. What is the official stance of the Indian government on this issue?
Answer
We do not have any factual data to corroborate the rumors.
Name
Maha
-
Profession
Question
Dear sir,
Due to the huge energy of the tsunami it is expected to have damaged most of the coral reefs in that area which not only was home to rare sealife but it also prevented tides from damaging the coastline.
How was India affected by this?
Answer
The maximum affected areas in the Andaman and Nicobar island groups are not coral in origin. What one can say in totality is that the impact of tsunami on ecosystem as well as the delicate marine habitat of the coast of south India is expected to be enormous. It would take a while for us to assess the exact impact of organisms in this niche.
