The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Lack of coordination hampering distribution of relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Lack of coordination hampering distribution of relief

By S.Ganesan

POOMPUHAR, DEC. 29. While humanitarian assistance was pouring into Nagapattinam following Sunday's calamity, lack of coordination seems to be the trouble in ensuring that the relief reached the genuinely affected.

A huge number of relief workers and large volume of relief material, donated by various national and international agencies, were continuously being rushed to Nagapattinam district since Monday. Hundreds of vehicles carrying the men and material were seen criss-crossing the district. Several more were seen going round the villages seeking contributions, in kind such as rice and used clothes. A large number of the villagers also willingly gave whatever they could afford. Even poor agricultural families spared something.

Complaints abound

Yet, complaints of delay in relief measures abounded among the affected persons. Though major aid agencies were working in tandem with the Government machinery, many other well-intentioned volunteers carrying the relief material appeared to be clueless on where exactly they were supposed to deliver the goods. Some were seen distributing clothes and food packets in places where there were no affected families.

"Nobody knows for sure who needs what and where," conceded a relief worker. "We need to identify the location-specific requirements on a continuous basis and direct the incoming aid accordingly," he added.

While earthmovers and heavy machines were a vital requirement to remove the heavy debris in the search for bodies, none could be found in most places.

Safe drinking water is another urgent need due to the serious threat of contamination of water sources in the affected villages.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu