ASIA/INDIA- Emergency in the villages of Tamil Nadu affected by the typhoon Thane continues

Madras (Agenzia Fides) – The situation in many of the villages in the State of Tamil Nadu scourged by the typhoon Thane remains serious and difficult (see Fides 09/01/2012). Although the news seems to have been downgraded by the media, interventions are still needed to return to normality. According to a statement which Fides received, the typhoon devasted the fields and the houses in the districts of Cuddalore and Villupuram and the Puducherry area. In these rural areas, inhabited mostly by farmers and fishermen, many of the houses were built of cheap and light material, such as straw and tin. The villages on the coast, moreover, already hit by the tsunami in 2004, were once again battered by the rains and winds and the new houses were severely damaged. For most of the people in the villages conditions have not improved; many areas are still without electricity and running water. The Salesian centres also suffered damage Puducherry, the "DBRITE" in Cuddalore and the missions in Gedilam and Maranodi Vinnarasi were all affected. At DBRITE the wind damaged the welding and mechanics workshops and all the windows were broken. Coconut palms and other trees were uprooted and the water tanks on top of the buildings destroyed. Among the immediate actions the Salesians have provided for the distribution of water which was pumped and distributed together with food, stoves, clothes, bedding and school material. Medium term projects planned include the repair or rebuilding of homes, and then in the long-term, rural development programs for cooperative work the large number of country people in the area. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 12/01/2012)