"what is left?'"

"People directly impacted by the tsunami lived by the sea and thought they knew it. They had felt the effects of conflict but discovered they are not safe from nature either. They now are asking,`what is left?'" In terms of psychological and physical health, some of the significant issues now threatening the communities of the north in the aftermath of the tsunami are an increase in depression, sleeping disorders, suicide, and alcoholism. Women and children constituted a large number of those killed and in many cases men witnessed their demise, helpless to save them. In a society where gender roles are clearly defined, men now find themselves confronting a double burden as heads of single parent households. Their personal loss, combined with the destruction of their boats and livelihoods, leaves them at greater risk of suffering from the psychological impact of the disaster. Dr. Daya Somasundaram of Jaffna University confirms that psychosocial assistance is a priority need for people impacted by the tsunami. He notes that children and youth are also suffering, as shown by nightmares, fears and heightened emotions. But the head of the psychology department for the faculty of medicine stresses that well-meaning organisations must take into account the type of psychological assistance required as well as the cultural context in which it is delivered; reported in The Toronto Star