Tsunami recovery update – India

A Habitat for Humanity home under construction in the Tamil Nadu region of India

Unsurprisingly, the worst affected region of India was the southernmost tip of the country - in particular, the state of Tamil Nadu - home to some of India's most historic and beautiful sites and to thousand upon thousands of people living in appalling poverty.

The tsunami dealt a final blow to many sub-standard houses in coastal communities in Southern India.

People living in the depths of poverty in mud huts or old, deteriorating houses provided by the government found their meagre shelter swept away in minutes as the tsunami struck.

Even those in sturdier houses were not spared as the wave crashed through everything that stood in it's path - damaged structures, roof tiles washed away and extensive water damage meant they simply could not return to their homes without major repair work being carried out beforehand.

Habitat's initial response to the tsunami in affected areas of Tamil Nadu was that of reparation. Volunteers from the United Kingdom and other parts of the world were quick to help in the repair and reconstruction effort to the point where at the end of 2007, we have repaired almost 3,000 homes and constructed a further 3,500.

More about Habitat for Humanity in India

Tsunami stories – rebuilding lives and bringing hope