To bring normalcy to the lives of 70,448 people from 40 coastal villages in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari districts, using a holistic approach for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction, with the participation of the community.

The Tsunami struck the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, India, on 26th December 2004. A colossal loss of life and property was suffered by the inhabitants of Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari and Cuddalore districts in Tamil Nadu. The Tsunami uprooted their routine lives and left a trail of profound human tragedy. The disaster has imposed a huge burden on the community, not only in physical terms but also in the psychological trauma experienced. The tsunami devastated coastal communities, killing thousands of people, the majority being fisher folk. In addition the waves destroyed houses, boats, fishing equipment, agricultural land and salt pans, thereby wiping out many thousands of livelihoods. It is estimated that nearly 900,000 people have been affected in these three districts. The number of lives lost in Tamil Nadu is estimated at 7,983. Nagapattinam district was the worst affected, with an estimated 6,063 people killed. Kanyakumari district suffered 824 deaths, and Cuddalore 617. OfERR has been providing constant support to affected communities, beginning in the emergency phase immediately after the disaster, and continuing today. We will continue to help these people rebuild their lives until both physical and psychological rehabilitation is achieved.
      
The survivors of the disaster wanted and needed some support as they began the process of healing minds and piecing together broken lives. OfERR, as an NGO with 24 years of experience working among the Ceylon refugee community in India, stepped forward to share this responsibility. With our experience and expertise in psychosocial care, OfERR was well-placed to offer much-needed support. At the time of the Tsunami, the process of immediate rescue and relief went on for several days until the government, recognising the psychological impact of the disaster, made a public appeal for counsellors on 3rd January 2005. OfERR regarded this as an opportunity for the organisation and our refugee volunteers to demonstrate their gratitude to the people and governments of India and Tamil Nadu. We did so by fully engaging in the counselling process, helping to alleviate the shock and trauma which had paralysed thousands across the three districts. These victims are the same people who once welcomed the Ceylon refugees, giving us space to live and sharing their resources with us. Rising to the occasion, OfERR approached the Tamil Nadu revenue minister, producing our training records in psychosocial care and offering our help. The minister and all the officials involved, overwhelmed by the disaster, asked our workers to proceed immediately to the worst affected districts of Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kanyakumari, and report to the respective district collector. The collectors then assigned our volunteers the task of visiting many devastated areas, where others were reluctant to go.

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