Art of Living Kuwait. Service

The Event
On Sunday, December 26, 2004, an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 shook the western coast of Northern Sumatra. The earthquake spawned a series of tsunamis that traveled across the Indian Ocean from Indonesia to Africa’s Eastern Coast. The waves left in their wake an unprecedented natural catastrophe that led to extraordinary loss of life and economic damage. The earthquake and resulting tsunamis left over 30,974 dead, 4,698 missing and 553,287 displaced in Sri Lanka. (Source: Government of Sri Lanka, Center for National Operations, 2/1/0 5). One-third of those affected are believed to be children, many of whom have been orphaned.

The Trauma
After the tsunami, relief workers reported that many of the survivors found it difficult to sleep or even close their eyes. They were afraid to walk, especially after sunset, in these areas, in view of the large number of bodies that have been recovered.

The Relief Operations
Within three hours of the advent of the tsunami, more than 500 volunteers of the IAHV and AOLF began direct relief work in the worst affected areas of India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. IAHV volunteers from around the world have been supporting the direct relief efforts.

Relief Material
AOL has provided around 250 tons of relief supplies and 100,000 liters of drinking water to SriLanka. In coordination with the ASPIC Benevolent Foundation for Children, AOLF volunteers have been providing food, water, clothing and blankets to the affected children (including a children’s camp that houses over 5000 potentially orphaned children). Truckloads of basic amenities such as food and clothing, medicines and tents have been distributed in the following cities: Jaffna, Matara, Biblilama, Ahamsima, Kudalave, Kirinth, Thisha, Akurusha, Galle, Kalmunai, Karativu, Nintavur, Akkaraipattu, Palamunai, Samanturai, Sainthamaruthu, Kattanjudi, Batiicaloa, Trincomalee and Mutur.
In Tamil Nadu, India, over 35000 from 74 villages in Nagapattinam benefited from trauma relief programs within 6 months of the tsunami. AOLF was officially declared the head of trauma relief operations by the collectorate of Nagapattinam.

Medical Camps
A fully equipped team of over 45 doctors and paramedical practitioners have been conducting medical camps in Kirinth and Galle. In the weeks following the disaster, they have also been providing vaccines against water borne diseases like cholera, typhoid and malaria, treating those with wound infections who did not seek immediate medical attention. On January 5, 2005, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of IAHV and the Art of Living movement met with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, The Honorable Mahnida Rajpakse and discussed the modalities of immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation of the victims.

Trauma Relief Camps
IAHV has been conducting trauma relief camps and counseling sessions. So far 40 such camps have been conducted covering more than 18,000 people in the worst affect Amparai district. Camps were conducted in Kalmunai, Karativu, Nintavur, Akkaraipattu, Palamunai, Samanturai, Sainthamaruthu, Kattankudi and Batticaloa. Offered the Art of Living Trauma Relief Program to over 18,000 people including women and children across the Island. This includes health & hygiene programs and material relief for the tsunami displaced and internally displaced people ( IDP`s) due to the two decade old ethnic violence.