Post tsunami trauma in India and Sri Lanka

Post-tsunami trauma in India and Sri Lanka

The number of people killed in earthquake and tsunami devastated Indian Ocean coastlines have been shot up to more than 165,000. The United Nations has warned that tens of thousands more may be as yet uncounted for in Indonesia. In Sri Lanka, 30,615 were confirmed killed and another 4,356 people were still missing. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan toured the tsunami affected coastal villages in Sri Lanka and said "I have never seen such utter destruction mile after mile," he further added. "you wonder where are the people? What has happened to them?". In India ,15689 people officially reported to be killed or missing along the coast of South India. WHO estimated that a total of 2260 km of coastal land in South India severely affected and penetrating 300m to 3 km. Further it was reported 627,119 people from 897

fishing villages recorded homeless. So far 638,297 people from affected villages along the coastal belt evacuated to safer places or relief camps. Tidal waves hit the coast of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Kerala and Pondicherry and unto the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Twenty six million people live in the affected area.

Situation Report of WHO states that “tackling urgent needs such as ensuring proper sanitation and clean water supplies and putting measures in place to try to prevent disease outbreaks is critical”. Further the Report emphasised that lack of toilet facilities are of utmost concern. In Sri Lanka, sanitation facilities are deemed inadequate as there are only three toilets for 1000 people (Kalmunai district) and water tanks are not being chlorinated in Batticaloa district. Most of the affected places in the South Indian States are endemic for malaria and dengue fever. Flooding and stagnant water will create especially favorable conditions for the mosquito vector and heighten epidemic risk for individuals and communities in overcrowded conditions and temporary shelters. Sewage systems have been severely damaged. In temporary relief camps, poor quality and quantity of water and insufficient sanitation, overcrowding and poor hygiene will bring forward the risk for outbreaks of different diarrhoeal diseases. Further, millions of people are now under serious threat of disease outbreaks as a result of damaged water and sanitation systems, sea water contamination, and the congested and crowded conditions of the displaced. No outbreaks of diseases have been reported from any part of the affected region. Displaced people suffering from stress and psychosocial trauma are living in cramped conditions without adequate hygiene and sanitation. The most practical and effective strategy to prevent cholera and typhoid is to provide clean water in adequate quantities and adequate sanitation.

Millions of people are suffering from psychological problems like post-traumatic stress. The doctors say the worst phase of trauma is about a month after the incident when the horrific scenes they witnessed come back to haunt the victims. In India, psychosocial support is being set up in 400 affected villages to address trauma among children . Tsunami victims of women and children particularly in poor fishermen communities show signs of psychological trauma, and reports are coming in on acute anxiety and shock.

Centre for Community Health Research, INDIA
E-mail: roycchr@satyam.net.in