Church of North India
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were one of the worst affected Union Territories of the country. They were also the closest to the epicentre. The worst affected among the Nicobar group of islands are Kar Nicobar, Katchal, Teressa, Great Nicobar (Campbell Bay), Chaura, Trinkat, Nancowry, Kamorta, Hut Bay (Little Andaman). All the affected people were immediately evacuated from the island and brought to relief camps at Port Blair. Others were accommodated in Relief camps at Car Nicobar (CarNic).
The Islands are also one of the twenty-six dioceses of the Church of North India (CNI). The CNI Synod responded to the tragedy by immediately constituting a CNI Disaster Management Committee chaired by Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary, CNI Synod and drawn from the Synod Office bearers, Chief functionaries of the CNI's Social and Health Boards, Bishop P.S.P.Raju and officials from the CNI Diocese of Kolkata to coordinate relief and rehabilitation work.
Celebrating Life
in the face of disaster
The Tsunami brought death and disaster to the sylvan environs of the Islands . But this catastrophe could not daunt the resilient spirit of the survivors. In the morning of January 04, 2005, a couple entered into Holy Matrimony, in the relief camp at Mus. Amidst the mourning, the seeds of life were sown. |
A six-member team of CNI reached Port Blair on December 31, 2004. In coordination with the Lieutenant Governor Prof. Ram Kapse, the team assessed the situation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands . People were stranded in different islands. Populace of Nicobar was cut off including the local Bishop and a substantial Christian community. The CNI team established a Disaster Management Centre in the Bishop's House, Port Blair.
A team of 53 volunteers was assembled and given initial training in relief operation by the CNI team to provide immediate relief to the survivors in terms of food, clothing, medicine and personal counselling. Through the EHL (Ellon Hinengo Limited) - a Tribal Cooperative Society, the CNI Team was able to send relief material of around 15 tonnes to Car Nicobar and reach out to more than 4000 people.
CNI Relief and Rehabilitation plan included providing food security to 10,000 families in 20 Tsunami affected villages in Car Nicobar, Katchal, Great Nicobar and Campbell Bay Islands along with other utility items like utensils, clothing, baby food etc. CNI: www.cnitsunamirelief.org
and www.cnisynod.org
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