Holistic approach to community in crisis

This report emphasizes the belief that whatever the type and scale of disaster, the period of transition from relief to recovery is the most critical. Following the severe earthquake that struck Kachchh, Gurjarat, India on 26 January 2001, emotions spanned grief over the lives lost; anxiety over property and other economic losses; profound feelings of isolation, helplessness, and guilt; and panic in the face of problematic communications from authorities. In an attempt to manage this vast array of psychosocial problems, a large cadre of volunteers was rapidly trained and supervised by experts to work as grass-roots counselors for the community.