Ice Cream Social

Yesterday I walked to Marina Beach in Chennai with Narayan and a
friend of his known as Crabman. Marina Beach, a long stretch of sand
and water, is home to several hundred slum dwellers. It was the
hardest hit area in Chennai; where one house remains, another two are
gone, reduced to rubble and debris. Chickens, mangy dogs, skinny cats
and the occasional puppy wander the streets, as people go about daily
life. Posters have been hung on walls still standing, as a reminder
and remembrance of people lost to the tsunami.

Some families here lost everything--their homes, fishing boats,
fishing nets, and often, a family member. Yet, smiles prevail. I was
welcomed by curious looks and many women eager to explain what
happened. And, the children demonstrated their resilience, following
us through the dusty lanes laughing and saying the handful of English
phrases they knew, "Hello. How are you?" "Tata! Bye!" "Photo?" The
girls in this photo had stopped in the street to enjoy an afternoon
ice cream cone. They erupted in laughter when I took their picture,
and were so giggly that one knocked her scoop into her hand--more
laughter ensued.

The women told me that the waves came in the morning around 8:30 AM
but did not subside as one might think. The water rose up the beach
quickly and then remained there for over a day at a height of over two
feet, filling the bottom floor of houses, and creating a haven for
bacteria and disease. This slum sits on the ocean, and is abutted by
a river on one side, so when the water finally receded, dead bodies
lay on the river embankment--a grim reminder of days past.

The Indian government should be commended for their handling of the
situation. Most higher-upsI have spoken to have said that their
people have been taken care of, given 4000 Rs. (just under $100), new
boats and nets, and food and clothing. When I ask if there is more
that can be done, and I explain that many private donors in the US
want to help, I am rebuffed. "Everything has been taken care of,"
Crabman told me with pride.

Whether that is true has yet to be determined. It is the
responsibility of interested donors to be persistent and ask the right
questions of the affected people--not the government officials--about
their needs. The people have received the aid they need to make it
through the coming weeks, but after that who will support them?