Christian Pilgrims Not Spared the Tsunami Wrath

Chennai – Even as the body count is going up, it seems that the tsunami that struck the southern coasts of India has not spared the Christian community too.

“It has been a terrible tragedy since it all happened on Sunday when the church service was on, and it occurred during the Christmas period," expressed Father Donald D’Souza, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). “In the Kottar area of Tamil Nadu, about 300 Christians who were attending a religious service died."

One of the popular Christian pilgrimage sites in India, the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, was hit most severely with the tsunami having claimed over 800 lives, according to news reports.

John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council (AICC), has called the tsunami "a greater tragedy than many others faced in the past" by the country's Christians. It's especially hard on the Christian community, he said, since "most of the boatmen and fishermen in the coastal areas are Christians."

The areas most affected by the tsunami are in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Anthropologists fear that some of the 72 indigenous tribes living in isolation on the 319 islands of the Andaman and Nicobar might have been wiped out by the tsunami.

Besides the terrible loss of human life, fear of deadly epidemics haunt medical authorities. The United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) have warned of water–borne epidemics as corpses rot and drinking water, food, and shelter become scarce. In India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, dead bodies are being disposed of in mass burials and cremations.

The unprecedented tragedy has shattered the local economies of small towns and villages in the coastal areas of India. The basic infrastructure and amenities have been wiped away by the waves, and the local communities have been left impoverished.

"Providing livelihood to the fisher folks would be our main focus to begin with," said John Dayal. "Fishermen need nets and boats. We will be focusing on that along with giving them psychological counseling and providing long–term rehabilitation."

According to Rev. Richard Howell, secretary general of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, Indian churches and Christian organizations are "deeply involved" in aid and relief efforts. "We have been on site from day one providing relief. We have already sent appeals for funds within India and abroad. We see it as a tragedy of human family. We will serve every needy person irrespective of his caste or religion," he said.

James Christian, Bishop's Chaplain for the Church of South India's Diocese of Madras, said that his denomination is providing shelter and clothes and collecting money for relief, but the situation remains "terrible and sad." "We are doing our best but our resources are insufficient," he said. "A lot more needs to be done. It is a time of great tragedy and we need prayers."

India's churches have organized a nation–wide day of prayer on January 2, but their work with the tsunami victims will likely continue for years.

"It won't be a one–time relief," explained Rev. Howell. "We are going to be with them, walking with them until they are rehabilitated."