Cyclone Nilam, India - InMaLanka needs your help!

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012, while the world is focused on the USA and Sandy, the cyclone Nilam hit the southeast coast of India. 

The states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are in alert since 48 hours, thousands of people have been evacuated and shelters are ready to welcome them. Nilam, as any cyclonic system, remains unpredictable and the landfall point is supposed to be between Pondichery and Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu. Moreover, the cyclone could turn to an hurricane and could make its landfall in Chennai. Letting think to the damages caused by the 1994 cyclone which claimed lives of almost thirty chennaites. 

Nilam finally hit Tamil Nadu coast in the late afternoon at 50km from Chennai up to the town of Mahabalipuram. 

The latest report mention 22 deads, several chennaites as well as sailors of the oil tanker Prathiba Cauvery which ran aground off the coast. More than 13,000 people have been evacuated. 

Hundreds of house were partially or totally destroyed by winds and torrential rains. Coconut roof pulled out, clay walls broken, people are now facing floods, more than hundred villages have been flooded. Hundred of acres of paddy and cotton fields were also destroyed.

The storm also hit Sri Lanka, albeit with less strengths. Reports indicate a minimum of 8 deads.

InMaLanka's infrastructures have not known much damage even though the storm hit our areas of action in India. People we work with have taken refuge in churches, municipal offices or in the home of relatives who stay in more stronger houses.

At the moment, dozens of families experiencing damages due to the cyclone. Some can no longer live at their home as the roof were torn off and the rains are flooding their place.

That is why we are calling to your generosity in order to help those families to rebuild their houses and return quickly and in good conditions to their homes.

A free health camp will be conducted this week in the village of Ramapuram, Andhra Pradesh. Donation of clothes and bed sheets will be done. This action will be conducted in partnership with the indian NGO Desire India and the swiss NGO SOS pour un monde meilleur.

For more information you can contact me at blanchemattern@inmalanka.org

If you wish to make a donation, thank you to send your check (payable in France) to

InMaLanka-Paris

24 rue Saint Fargeau

75020 Paris

France

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http://inmalanka.org/faire_un_don.html

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Thank you for your support!