We invite everyone concerned with disasters to this International Conference


International Symposium on “Tsunami-Science, Society and Governance” March
5-6, 2005, New Delhi, India

Background

 A massive earthquake took place off the coast of Indonesia as two
tectonic plates-the India plate and the Burma Plate rub against each other.
The Burma plate snaps, causing a massive displacement of water in the
Indian Ocean.  The waves, moving as fast as 800 km/h, spread out in all
directions.  In the deep ocean, the tsunami waves are very long, but they
slow down and gain height as they hit shallow waters near the shores.  The
Indian Government’s preliminary estimate of the total loss for Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry Rs. 5,322.05 crore and official
death toll as on Jan 6: 9682.  In other countries, the death toll was as
follows:

Indonesia; 94,081, Sri Lanka; 30,500, Thailand; 5,200, Maldives; 82,
Malaysia; 68, Burma ; 64, Somalia;300, Tanzania; 10

 The Shompen and Onge tribes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are
still isolated from the relief efforts and their fate depends on whether
the landing parties dispatched by the Integrated Relief Command locates
them.  Money, housing relief material, tools of trade governments and civil
society pitch in to rehabilitate the tsunami-hit fisherman.  But can they
give him back life as he knew it?  Not that there is any dearth of effort
on the part of the government or the civil society.  Till last count,
8,90,885 people were deemed affected in Tamil Nadu.  The government has
promised Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of each of the 7,921 people declared
dead.  By January 2, most families in Tamil Nadu had got the government
package of a dhoti, saree, two bedsheets, 60kg rice, 3 liters kerosene, Rs.
2,000 for purchase of provisions and utensils; and Rs. 2,000 for putting up
a hut as a temporary measure.  Activists fear that more than 30 per cent of
the $1 billion projected aid to be sent on Aceh could be stolen-about the
average that disappears every year  from Indonesia’s national
budget.  “Based on our experience, corruption in disaster recovery
programmes in Indonesia is rampant,” said Luky Djani of Indonesian
Corruption Watch.  “We expect corruption in Aceh since there’s so much aid
coming in.”  In India in 2002 a study conducted by the Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had
identified 125 districts across the country as “most hazard-prone”.  A list
of 38 quake-prone cities was also drawn up.  These included all the four
major metros, eight state capitals and other important cities like Pune,
Agra, Vijayawada and Kochi.
 For the millions of people who faced the shock and horror of the
earthquake and tsunami, but survived, the hard times may have only begun.
Catastrophes always strain one’s capacity to absorb shock, and a disaster
of this stupendous scale can bring about unimaginable and lasting
psychological trauma.  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious
psychiatric condition triggered by exceptionally stressful events like
terrorist attacks or natural disasters, whose immediate signs can include:
Aggressive demeanour; Suicidal tendencies; Confused behaviour; Fear and
worry.

This is best treated with what the WHO calls ‘psychological first aid’.
The typical process: listen, show compassion, asses and ensure basic
physical needs are met, don’t force victims to talk, provide company
(ideally from family or significant others), encourage social support
without forcing it, protect from more harm.  However long-term effects can
be more devastating, with signs like: Clinical depression; Alcoholism and
substance abuse; Reduced effectiveness at work; Difficulty with
relationships; Feelings of guilt and fear. Though supportive counseling and
community-based self-help groups can help, sufferers often need more help,
including professional psychiatric care and sustained treatment.

For low-lying coastal areas and small island states, a lot of their
protection comes from coral reefs, beaches and mangrove swamps.  The last
decade has seen mangrove swamps being cleaned rapidly to make room for
tourism facilities and infrastructure.  Mangroves, coral reefs, sand bars
act as natural barriers against tidal surges. The scale of devastation was
less; in places like Maldives which have a rich cover of reefs.  Unplanned
development and industrial activity along the coast destroys mangroves and
coral reefs.  CRZ norms have to be strictly implemented to save the natural
buffers against  disasters.

Expected participating organizations:

Red Cross, Geological Survey of India NRSL, ISRO, MP’s, District Collectors
from South India, UNISDR, UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank, CARE, Action Aid,
Oxfam, Save The Children Trust, IIT’S, UNEP, UNESCO, SANDEE, SCIDEV India
Together, Embassies of the affected countries, Universities in India, Sri
Lanka, Indonesia, Malayasia, Thailand INSEE, NDM, Hazard International,
CARITAS, Coast Guards.
Registration fee:  US$200; Indian   Participants :Rs. 2000
Proposed Venue: India  International Centre,40 Lodi Estate, New Delhi-110003
We propose to deliberate on the following topics in the symposium:

1. Science of Tsunami: Warnings
2. Disaster Reduction in Tsunami
3. Tsunami and Coastal Issues
4. Social and Psychological Issues
5. Tsunami and Children
6. Tsunami and Community
7. Relief and Rehabilitation
8. Tsunami and Governance

Submit your willingness to  participate (WTP), Abstract (300 words) and
Full Paper (2000 words), Poster idea, as soon as possible, but before Feb.
28, 2005.  Participant may ask for hotel reservation, paying guest
accommodations. Limited financial assistance registration fee waiver  are
available for participants from developing countries on first come, first
served basis.  Please send your abstract, paper, poster outline,
collaboration proposals and enquiries to Prof. D. Mukhopadhyay email:
<[log in to unmask]>  We look forward to meeting you in New Delhi