MCC workers visit earthquake-struck city

Mennonite Central Committee
Tuesday, 13 February 2001

AKRON, Pa. -- When a devastating earthquake struck western India's Gujarat State on Jan. 26, Ten Thousand Villages staff worried about the 300 artisans of St. Mary's. For nearly two weeks attempts to contact the women were futile, which added to their growing concern. St. Mary's, a Catholic organization, is located in Ahmadabad, the largest city in Gujarat hit by the quake.

Last week a three-person MCC team traveled to Ahmadabad and were relieved to find the artisans unharmed, although some of their homes were damaged.

Workers report from Ahmadabad

The team included Naomi Beach, a buyer for MCC's Ten Thousand Villages program in Akron, Pa.; David Gerber, MCC India country co-representative; and Julius Devadasan, project officer in charge of material resources in Calcutta.

The MCC team arrived in Ahmadabad on Feb. 7 and described it as "full and bustling." They were happy to see that the St. Mary's building was only slightly damaged, although cracks in the plaster will soon need to be filled before spring rains begin.

Most of St. Mary's 300 artisans have been able to continue working from their homes, in fact many were bringing finished pillow covers and picking up new orders when the MCC team arrived. Ten Thousand Villages purchases embroidered items from St. Mary's including pillow covers, tablecloths and wall hangings.

A small number of the artisans have not been so fortunate, reported Gerber. "One woman named Susila showed up [Feb. 7] at St. Mary's for the first time since the earthquake. She seemed to still be in shock but was able to make it there," he said.

The team drove to the five-story apartment building where Susila lived. The structure was standing but showed signs of irreparable damage. The building will need to be torn down.

"There are cracks everywhere and people who lived there have all gone," said Gerber. Susila and her husband, who is a day laborer, have been staying with her parents since the earthquake.

Worst damage to newer homes and wealthier families

While natural disasters affect both rich and poor, many poor families in Ahmadabad escaped the worst damage. Most buildings that collapsed in the city were newer, multi-story homes and apartment buildings only wealthier families can afford.

"It is very clear these buildings collapsed due to poor construction," said Beach, adding that local newspapers and magazines are full of complaints of builder fraud.

The MCC team met with a woman named Manjari Bhatt, who lived in Toronto for 16 years before returning to Ahmadabad to care for her elderly mother. Bhatt has been helping 12 families from a collapsed apartment building. Like others, these families discovered after the quake that the building's foundation was only 75 centimeters (2.5 feet) instead of the required 210 centimeters (7 feet) deep. One woman died when the building collapsed, while others were saved when a stair railing caught a toppling concrete wall as they fled down the stairs. Bhatt is supporting the families emotionally and is helping them document their losses.

The Hindu caste system has also complicated relief work, MCC workers said. Although outlawed by the Indian government in the 1950s, the centuries-old system still permeates the country. In talking with a doctor from the Christian Medical Association of India, Gerber learned that some upper-caste families have been reluctant to accept help from anyone of a lower caste.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org