For the last few days, we have been actively involved in the rain relief efforts in Chennai and other villages.  In Chennai on the 27th, even as it was raining heavily, our volunteers helped shift people into 4 relief camps.  We supplied the people with food and provided children with blankets. Because there was a rush for blankets, we made sure people went to sleep and after that our volunteers went from person to person, identified kids and women who needed the blankets most and covered them with it even as they were sleeping.  We also collcted a lot of children's clothes and provided them to various families. We also organized medical camps in a couple of centers - particularly for the children (many of whom were having fever).   By the next day in many of the places the water had drained away and we got people to go back to their homes.

In Kallukuttai where there is still neck deep, we are continuing our efforts. We organized a health camp there.  To travel into the habitation (which was fully flooded), volunteers and the doctor had to travel by a thermacole raft!  We have been providing food and some clothes in this area - particularly for children.  Our volunteers in Sulagiri, Vembakkam and Koovathur did surveys to identify the poorest people whose homes (mud and thatch) were damaged and we are now working on plans to help them reconstruct these. Basically the idea is to supply basic materials and the people there can repair the damages themselves.

I thank all the volunteers who have been helping with the relief efforts and also all the people who donated clothes, food and other relief materials and funds for the rain relief efforts.