Manvi is remarkably normal. the children are preparing for their school day function on Saturday, lessons carry on on the weather is sunny and warm. When you talk to the children though they all have a story 'My house is gone', 'The water in my house was this high'; Three men in my village died' etc.

 

Its not until you drive out towards the river that you see what has happened here. As you approach Chikalparvi it is the fields you first notice; the paddy which should be bright green is brown and has perished. The you notice the debris in the trees showing the height the water reached and then when you approach the village you see the destruction. Where there were houses you see rubble or just empty spaces.

 

When we first arrived in Pannur things seemed less bad until we turned into the road towards the Church. Again you began to see empty spaces where some of the poorer wooden houses had been, then as you get close to the church again piles of rubble where houses had stood for years. People we knew and had worked alongside had lost everything.The wall around the Church had gone and the land was muddy but beginning to dry out . The people were out doing what they could to rebuild and help each other. There are enough houses still standing in Pannur to mean that no-one has to sleep outside, neighbours are helping each other. The Dalit area will have to be rebuilt however further fom the river on higher ground otherwise they will suffer in this way again.

 

And then onto Hulugunchi on the otherside of the river. But Hulugunchi has gone, only rubble is left; it looks as if there was an earthquake rather than a flood. The force of the water was so great that even stone buildings were demolished. The conditions that the people are living in is shocking, in makeshift tents on the side of the road. They have been totally dependent on support from Pannur Mission to buy blankets, clothing and food. This week an official from the State Government came to give them a cheque to buy emergency provisions but the cheque bounced when it was presented at the bank. And yet the spirit of the people is good, they look after each other and work together to improve conditions. last night we ate a communal meal with them and they were determined to build a new village on higher ground ansd with goos quality houses for all. The chidren continue to laugh and sing, but they have turned down the opportunity to shelter in Pannur as they want to stay with their parents. A major concern for them is the loss of their school books so today using the money I brought out with me from the Ursuline High School we will give each child a new schoolbag and books so that they can resume their classes in a makeshift school.

 

It was very humbling to be with the people. They complain only about the failure of the authorities to help them. Each has a story to tell but overwhelmingly they tell you how thankful they are that when the water came they were able to save the thing most precious to them - their children.

 

The greatest need now is for three things ;warm clothing , especially for the children ; nurses to work amongst the people,the nights are turning cold and there is a shortage of water and no power at all. People will become sick and so nurses who can come even if only for a couple of weeks are in great demand. The second need is housing. Some of the villages need to be relocated to higher ground and even in Pannur some houses need to be shifted away from the river. In the villages we work in 308 houses will need to be built. The contractor who is building the school has estimated that the cost of a good simple house with proper drainage and sanitation will be in the order of £3000. This will cover all materials. Labour will be free as the villagers will unite to build together.

 

We hope that out of this calamity could come something positive with people able to have a decent house with power and sanitation and a small garden. We will be setting up an appeal with our sister organisations to raise the money to build the houses. In the meantime please continue to fund the emergency appeal, we need

urgently to buy warm clothing and blankets for those living in the open.