Tsunami relief work
Tsunami rehabilitation work saw the good, the bad and the ugly of any post-disaster reconstruction work. New houses were built for many families who lost their houses to tsunami. Sometimes the wait to get houses was very long and people continued to live in temporary settlements with no clean water and sanitation facilities. Fishermen also took some time to return to the sea.
Children bounced back sooner and joined many efforts like creating their own sanitation parliament. This photo story documents children's lives after the December 2004 tsunami and during the reconstruction work, and how life after tsunami became a long wait for many – to get houses, clean water, sanitation facility and to get back their normal lives.
Tsunami relief brought in millions of dollars and several thousand NGOs sprung into action to provide relief to communities.
Children playing in fishing village in Tamil Nadu.
Fishermen were reluctant to return to the sea for many days after the tsunami.
A child at a permanent tsunami settlement.
Many tsunami settlements had no access to clean water.
Anitha with her mother in a permanent tsunami settlement.
Children's Sanitation Parliament at Panchayat Union Middle School, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu.
Children learning good sanitation practices.
New settlements.
Getting permanent houses was a long wait for many tsunami sufferers.
Many families continued to live in temporary settlements three years after the tsunami.
People were angry and often asked visitors about when they would get their new homes.
People were unable to use temporary toilets and preferred to go out in the open.
In the absence of hygiene and sanitation, women's health and safety became a concern.
Saranya complained about the ineffective waste water treatment facility that had failed in Samanthanpettei village causing serious health concerns.
Fishing nets remained bundled up for many weeks after the tsunami.
Women from a fishing community in Tamil Nadu.