(from AID Tsunami Relief  coordination team)

   * About 40 truck loads of relief materials shipped from Chennai collection and distribution center to camps and villages in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam
   * About 10 truck loads of relief materials distributed in and around Chennai
   * About 10 truck loads of relief materials shipped from collection centers in Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Short term relief materials that have been distributed so far have been essential needs, such as ...

   * 20,000 blankets
   * 15,000 mats
   * 1000 bags of used clothing
   * new clothes
   * 2000 sets of cooking utensils and plates
   * 8000 Kgs of rice
   * water packets, disinfectants, soap, daal (lentils) etc.
   * medicines
   * weighing machines and manometers for blood pressure monitoring

Almost Rs. 10 to 12 lakhs worth of material were received as donations. These are sorted, classified and distributed to areas where there is a need for such materials. There is still a need for cooking utensils and provisions. Used clothes are in surplus.

Whatever material that is needed and is not there in the in kind donation collections are procured and shipped expeditiously.

The short term relief and reconstruction efforts that are being taken up now are arising out of the individual families returning to rebuild their homes. Over all working in about 75 villages, organized into 7 clusters located in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Kanyakumari districts. The urgent need is for

   * stoves and utensils (previously being shared by families, now as
they move out of the camps there is a need for more)
   * provisions and other items
   * construction supplies

An assessment of needs of the affected families is underway and within two days we will have an estimate on the reconstruction needs.

If you would like to have more information on these efforts, please contact your nearest AID chapter (chapter listings at AID Chapters and www.aidindia.org)