*Transcribed*
The destruction here is unbelievable. It’s hard to think that water could have ripped all these buildings apart. Eben was here 3 days after the Tsunami delivering a truckload of aid our church sent. He said the stench was unbearable. The smell I’m getting here is not that of dead fish, but something else; it’s hard to describe. The air feels heavy. One of the locals just came and told us how it’s quite possible that there are dead bodies under the sand because many people from the village are still missing. Once again, listening to some of these people’s stories is really tough. People have lost their homes, their livelihood and their families. Watching this stuff on TV is not the same as being here, seeing their faces and hearing it first hand. Not only has this place been ruined by what I’m going to call the “Political Tsunami” (the civil war), but it has been further devastated now. I now realize what I’ve gotten myself into. This isn’t going to be easy. Just seeing the huge disparity between the rich and poor in this country is sickening. I think this is the first time I’m feeling a little discouraged and thinking about what a couple of people back home said: “What difference can one person really make?” I knew there would be tough points, but I didn’t think it would happen so early in the trip. I just keep reminding myself why I came here: “Every little helps”.
After effects of the “Political Tsunami”
Almost 2 months later and there are still dead fish floating around. Someone carried this statue and placed it here. It’s broken in 3 or 4 places, but it’s holding together.
Tsunami Destruction
Some people just wanted someone to listen to them. Here are 2 local stories: Some people at this church were getting ready for the Sunday service. 2 girls managed to hold on to this pole and they survived. 9 people died here including the pastor’s wife and child; he lived.
A fisherman came back from sea after the Tsunami and found his home destroyed and his entire family dead. The town’s people say he went crazy after seeing this. He keeps walking to the sea waving a big stick and shouting: “Why did you come?! Who told you to come here?! Who gave you permission to come and take my family away while I was gone?!” He then walks back to the land side and after a few minutes goes back and does the same thing.
Some temporary shelters have been put up. In the second picture, a family has only moved into this shelter yesterday. Since the Tsunami they were living in a school with many other families. The size of each of these structures is about 10ft x 15ft. There are 2 sometimes 3 families living in each of these. When they said “temporary housing” I thought this meant a couple of months. I was wrong. “Temporary” means these people will be living here for 6 months to a year. This is again why the permanent housing projects need to be started ASAP.
Here’s the makeshift kitchen this family has put up so they can cook. My grandfather jokingly asked the woman: “Can you make something for us as well?” She smiled and cheerfully said: “Definitely. Come join us for dinner.” I was really touched to see that even after all these people have been through, they can still manage to be in good spirits and are willing to share the little that they have. The next time you’re going to make a big dramatic scene about what a rough day you’ve had, think about these people. Kunju said a prayer with the family before we left.
The sun sets as the moon rises on Mullaitivu. Our day is done.