Disaster Relief
The M.A.Math is a non-profit
organization that has such a vast, multifaceted infrastructure that
when a major disaster strikes anywhere in India, it is able to immediately
respond with the power of its dedicated volunteers and monks, including
professionals in various fields, to take care of every aspect of
disaster relief, from emergency work to long-term rebuilding and
rehabilitation.
Another very important factor is that, when
Amma pledged $23 million for Tsunami relief efforts she knew that
her admirers from all over the world will make that pledge a reality.
When asked about it, she simply stated, "My children are my
strength."
True to her faith in her children, donation poured in and we must
say that expenditure kept exceeding the income as the relief efforts
are expanding in multiple ways.
Nevertheless, until today the volunteers are working consistently
and the relief efforts are progressing steadily and impressively.
The United Nations commended the M.A.Math for its outstanding disaster
relief efforts and conferred the NGO status to the Math on July
2005. As of today the estimated aount spent on Tsunami Relief Work
by the M.A.Math has doubled from $23 million USD to $46 million
USD.
RELIEF EFFORTS OF THE M.A.MATH & M. A. CENTER from 2004 to
2007
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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