Fw: Tsunami update as on Jan 9/10

[Guest guest]

From S. Chinny Krishna on behalf of

Blue Cross of India and Karuna Society

 

TSUNAMI UPDATE - JAN 9, 2005, 2200 HRS

(further updated on Monday Jan 10 1000 hrs)

FEEDING OF DOGS ON CHENNAI BEACHES

 

With effect from today, Sunday,the feeding of dogs on the beaches of Chennai is

being stopped since most residents in the areas affected by the tsunami have

returned and the dogs do not need our help anymore. We are indeed thankful to

Gayathri and Chanda and Mrs. Chandralekha, former Secretary to Government of

Tamil Nadu and now the General Secretary of the Janata Party who made this

possible.

 

MISSING CATTLE IN NAGAPATTINAM AND CUDDALORE

 

At about 3 pm this afternoon, a desperate call was received from Geetha

Seshamani of SOS Wildlife saying she had received a report from her vet in

Cuddalore that animals he had been feeding in some of the villages had

disappeared.

I told her that our four teams in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam had noticed this

even yesterday and had mentioned it in my update sent yesterday, Jan 8th.

 

Cattle and goats which were abandoned or ownerless even according to the Animal

Husbandary Department (AHD) till the day before yesterday have either

disappeared or been " found " by their owners! All the efforts taken by our teams

and the AHD to set up temporary camps for the cattle have come to naught.

 

CLINIC SET UP AT NAGAPATTINAM

 

In the meantime, the AHD who had offered us space to stay at the Government

Veterinary Hospital in Nagapattinam and make it our local base have allowed us

to set up a clinic for the rescued animals. Injured animals have been treated

there today. A dog requiring minor surgery is awaiting treatment. If the AHD

cannot spare a surgeon by Monday, we will be sending down our surgeon.

 

CO-ORDINATION WITH OTHER NGOs

 

When Geetha Seshamani of SOS had called, we discussed the advantages of working

together to avoid duplication of efforts. I offered her as much green grass and

hay which we are getting from the AHD free of charge(we are arranging for and

paying only the transportation charges from their grass farm to our storage

point at Indian Bank premises at Nagapattinam). SOS are currently buying this

much needed material. If there are other groups in this area, they are welcome

to contact our co-ordinator Mr. Raghavan (mobile number 9381043648) for free

supply as long as we keep receiving supplies from the AHD.

 

TAP WATER SUPPLY RESTORED IN MANY AREAS

 

With most of the villages having tapped water supply restored, a difficult,

expensive and time consuming job of getting water transported to these areas is

no longer required. Our four vehicles are available for going to the many

villages and feeding the now " owned " animals which still desperately need

fodder. Our ambulances can also be used for transporting sick animals to the

clinic. Sick and injured cattle and horses can be transported safely since the

two large ambulances of the Blue Cross are fitted with hydraulic lifts to lift

the animals into the vehicle.

 

FEEDING OF DOGS

 

In the early mornings and evenings, when the dogs are more easily visible, the

teams are feeding them.

 

JOINT EFFORTS WITH CVA

 

Dr. Abdul Rahman has lost no time in contacting various groups of veterinarians

around the world regarding the long range efforts needed in these areas for

which a task force has been agreed on. The Tsunami Animal Relief Task Force will

be headquartered in the registered office of the Blue Cross of India, in the 200

year-old beautiful building of the

C P Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation (rent free, need I add!).

Incidentally, Sir C P Ramaswami Aiyar was the Dewan (Prime Minister) of

Travancore and was responsible for making Travancore (one of the many princely

states that make up today's India) the first state in India to ban the hunting

of animals.

 

All the above work and the much more difficult remaining work still to be done

is being made possible due to the help we have received from many people from

around the world. While we have actually received money only from WSPA, Kim

Bartlett of Animal People; Jill Robinson of Animals Asia Foundation; Mr. Jai

Gopal Garodia; Mr. Kantilal Chandhak and family; we have been fortunate in

getting assistance which is on the way from the RSPCA, UK,; United Animal

Nations, USA; Swiss Federation for Animal Welfare; Animal Aid Unlimited; NSPCA,

RSA; Humane Society International, USA; CVA; AVAR, USA; Sally Grant of ; Elly

Maynard of Sirius; Rick Berry from South Africa. The Honorary Secretary of the

Red Cross State Office, Ms. Bhargavi Devendra, has written to all her branches

in the affected areas to extend all help to our volunteers. We are indeed

grateful to her.

 

Mrs. Maneka Gandhi called this morning to say that anytime our work is slowing

down due to lack of money, she would divert upto Rs.200,000 from her other

organisations and work and send it down. Knowing how short of funds the animal

welfare movement is (not just now, but perpetually!), her offer is most kind.

 

Our volunteers and staff have responded magnificiently and the Officers and

staff of the CP Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation have been feeding the animals in the

stretch between Kalpakkam and Marakanam (the area made arid and saline by shrimp

farming and now flooded by the tsunami).

 

================================

 

Update, Monday 1000 hrs;

 

Overwhelmed with the enormity of what our teams in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam

are trying to achieve and the inevitable frustrations at delays, (not to mention

burnout because of working round-the-clock), I am serving as a mediator more and

more frequently. Added to this is the fact that Clementien speaks only English

(among Indian languages) and her collegues speak only Telugu, not tamil.

Unfortunately, since I am the only common link, I am spending time in explaining

one groups actions to the others. This morning, all concerned are

sittingtogether with interpreters to write down clearly demarcated areas of

responsibility to proceed smoothly with the work!

 

I instructed all work to stop at 8 pm yesterday and asked all to get a good

nights sleep.

 

At the time of writing (1000 hrs Monday), a meeting is in progress with our

teams represented by Clementien Pauws and Raghavan with the AHD with a view to

further streamline the relief work.

 

Many injured animals are in the clinic being treated.

 

Will keep you posted.

 

S. Chinny Krishna

Blue Cross of India