Disaster Relief
Since 2001, Embracing the World has been quick to respond to natural disasters. Most well-known for its $46 million tsunami-relief project, our volunteers have been at ground zero in several of the decade's most devastating natural disasters, from the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake to the 2008 Bihar Flood which displaced millions. In the face of these tragedies, Embracing the World has provided everything from food, medicine and temporary shelter to new homes, counseling and jobs.
With a dual focus on rapid response and extensive long-term rehabilitation, Embracing the World has developed a reputation for being first on the scene and the last to leave - long after the spotlight has faded away. Amma's empathy and concern for the disaster victims is so complete that she responds to every aspect of their situation - not only fulfilling their material and emotional needs, but also keeping an eye on their future. ETW's provision of long-term support for disaster victims has carried thousands through the darkest periods of their lives into the light of a hopeful future.
The relief-and-rehabilitation work of Embracing the World has been praised by government agencies, world-leaders and members of the United Nations as being something "above and beyond." This is because it is more than mere relief; it is the care of a mother for her children.
In 2005, the United Nations conferred "Special Consultative Status" to Embracing the World's India-based organization (MAM), thus enabling collaboration with UN agencies. This status was given in recognition of MAM's outstanding disaster-relief work and other humanitarian activities.
RELIEF EFFORTS OF ETW from 2004 to
2012
Japan Tsunami Relief Efforts
Just two days after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, ETW dispatched a team of volunteers to Miyagi to determine the scope of the disaster and distribute relief supplies. Food and relief supplies were distributed at Kotodai Park. The volunteers have continued to return to the area to provide aid and help with the relief work in Ishinomaki and Kesennuma.
Embracing the World (ETW), the international organization of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, formally presented its donation of US $1,000,000 to Yoshihiro Murai, the Governor of Miyagi, Japan. This money will be used for Miagi children's education fund. The donation is part of Ashram's Japan Tsunami relief and rehabilitation work. Amma had announced this amount during her visit to Japan in the month of July 2011. A Report
Raichur Flood Relief Efforts
Six days of unprecedented rainfall, from September 29 to October 4, 2009 caused the Krishna to overflow its banks, rushing into their villages and inundating their homes and fields. Collapsed houses, destroyed crops, lives and livestock lost – their lives were never to be the same again.
This story was repeating itself in hundreds of villages bordering the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Tragedy and devastation loomed large. News of the disaster brought tears to Amma's eyes. She responded immediately, sending two contingents of medical personnel, accompanied by truckloads of medicines, blankets, garments and food. The Mata Amritanandamayi Math's medical teams sought out those inaccessible villages that had not been reached out to by any other aid group, working to ensure that no one slipped through the cracks. While attending to the survivor's wounds, they also worked to fight epidemic outbreaks that could prove even more deadly. A Report
Haiti Relief Efforts
In response to the deepening crisis in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, Amma announced a plan to provide relief there. In the United States, Embracing the World volunteers based at M.A. Center are already rushing to assemble boxes of clothing and medical goods—surgical supplies, first aid kits, and ambulatory aids like canes and walkers—for immediate shipment to Haiti.. A Report
Flood Relief Efforts in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Apart from a monetary pledge of Rupees 50 crore (10.68M USD) towards rehabilitation of the people in the flood hit areas, teams of doctors and paramedics were sent to these States along with providing food and clothing. A Report
Cyclone in West Bengal
With an entire village destroyed in the Cyclone, relief was provided to the stricken in the form of medical aid, food, clothing and shelter despite the great difficulty in accessing most areas. A Report.
Bihar Flood Relief Efforts
MA Math announced that it will provide twenty million rupees ($450,000) for flood-relief work in Bihar.
Several teams comprising volunteers of the M.A.Math, doctors and nurses were sent to the region.
The Mata Amritanandamayi Math completed the construction of its first relief camp for victims of the Bihar.
For
a report
Peru Earthquake Relief Efforts
M.A.Center has been sending food and other essential supplies to
the vicitms of the Peru Earthquake. Volunteers from M.A.Center have
been assisting in the distribution of these essential items and
in serving the victims. For
a report
Tsunami Relief Efforts
After the terrible Tsunami struck Asia and Africa in December
2004 the M.A.Math has done outstanding relief work that continues
till today. Tsunami
Relief Efforts of the M.A.Math.
Moreover, the M.A.Math pledged $23 million towards Tsunami relief
and rehabilitation in India and Sri Lanka. But, in truth, altogether
the value of the project is in effect nearly $46 million, as so
much of the work is being done by volunteers.
On July 2005, the United Nations officially
recognized the Mata Amritanandamayi Math as an NGO.
Here is a short report of Tsunami Relief work by the M.A.Math
For a complete report with details
please click
here
As of January 2007 more than 4500 out
of the 6200 permenant homes have been
constructed in various parts of India, Srilanka, Andaman and Nicobar
islands.
Emergency shelter and food for 4,100 homeless families
Three meals a day for an additional 32,000 people
Extensive medical care through AIMS Hospital
Clothing for 90,000 people
Cash for 16,000 families
700 fishing boats, motors, fishing nets
Job camps for 2,000 adolescents
Vacation camps for 10,000 children
Provisions for 10,000 families
10,000 children participated in educational camps
With the tsunami
disaster relief work ,the M.A.Math is offering opportunities
that can uplift the lives of coastal villagers. Before the disaster,
village life went on as it had for decades; people eeked out a simple
living, or as in the case of most village women, had no possibility
to earn a living at all.
Now, in response to their pleas for help, the M.A.Math is providing
hundreds of villagers with free vocational training of their choice.
Their lives are changed in ways they could never have imagined.
 Floods
in Mumbai, India- On
July 26th 2005, 94.4 cm of rain fell in Mumbai on a single
day, the highest rainfall recorded not only in Indian history, but
in the world too.
Millions were affected. Floods and landslides washed away countless
homes. At least a thousand people drowned. Tens of thousands were
stranded in their offices for three days. Floods not only submerged
many areas in the state, they also paralyzed all land transportation,
cutting off supplies of food, water and medical aid.
The M.A.Math distributed supplies such as mats, bed sheets, stoves
and kitchen utensils, rice and groceries to the tribal folks belonging
to the areas of Khidkupada, Panvel.
Medical care for 50,000 survivors and $1 million
worth of medicines were distributed.
The medical teams sent by the Ashram comprised three doctors, two
fully equipped ambulances, seven paramedics, two nurses and two
pharmacists. They attended to more than 1,500 patients every day
and distributed medicines worth one million US dollars that were
sent mainly from the M.A.Math's charitable AIMS hospital in Cochin.
 Katrina
Relief Efforts - Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf
coast of United states in the month of September, 2005.
The M.A.Center has
donated $1M towards Katrina Relief to the Bush-Clinton to help
rehabilitate the Gulf coast region.Food, clothing and other essential
items were also provided.
Read about M.
A. Center's response to Katrina disaster
 Kashmir
Earthquake Relief Efforts - In October 2005 a disastrous
earth quake shook the lives of the people of Kashmir and Pakistan.
M A. Math & M. A. Center have sent thousands of sweaters and
other warm clothing to the disaster struck areas of Pakistan and
Kashmir. M. A. Math also adopted and is rebuilding
3 worst hit villages in the area. Read
more of their efforts.
Floods in Gujarat, 2006 - - Extensive medical care
and supplies
RELIEF EFFORTS IN THE RECENT PAST
After the earthquake in Gujarat
in 2001, the M.A.Math sent a large group of medical specialists
and volunteers to the area.
Just over one year later, three entire villages had been completely
rebuilt through the organization's disaster relief program.
Reconstruction of 3 entire villages, including 1,200 earthquake-proof
homes were done.
Medical aid, emergency shelter, food, and clothing were also provided
on time to thousands of victims.
When four years later, the Gujarat villagers heard that the area
around the M.A.Math main ashram in Kerala had been devastated by
the tsunami, they collected 20 tons of grain, blankets and clothing
for the tsunami victims in the M.A.Math's care.
A group of the village leaders then made the three-day journey to
Kerala to help the M.A.Math rebuild the houses in the area. They
said, “When we needed help, you were there for us. Now it
is our duty to help you.” They helped in another way, as well.
They brought hope to the traumatized villagers, because they themselves
had also recently lost everything, but had recovered beautifully—largely
because of the compassion and care showered by the volunteers of
the M.A.Math
.
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Amma 
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