Sunday, January 2 2005 15:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Cuddalore: A week after the Tsunami hit this coastal region, the Cuddalore district administration has all the numbers on its fingertips, except the number of NGOs and other agencies involved in relief work.

The number of villages hit by the killer waves in Cuddalore is 51, people dead (599), relief camps (38), people in the camps (24,204), medical teams (23), army personnel in relief work (75), country boats damaged (1560), mechanised boats damaged (550) etc.

And the number of NGOs and other voluntary organisations working on the ground? "Loads," says Anu George, assistant collector, Cuddalore.

This has been a notable feature in this calamity. In an unprecedented show of unity, relief and assistance have been pouring in from all parts of the globe to the Tsunami wrecked regions. Hundreds of NGOs and other relief agencies are working round-the-clock in these areas for the last one-week, offering all forms of help to the victims.

"We are totally clueless on the number of NGOs operating here," she adds, pointing out that it was a deliberate decision by the administration to accept all forms of help in the disaster. "All forms of assistance are welcome," George said.

However, in Cuddalore, the authorities said there was enough supply of clothes and food. "Our next priority is rehabilitation and we would appreciate cash donations or assistance to rebuild the huts and boats, which would help the fishermen to earn a livelihood," said Cuddalore district collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi.