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Caithness gives hope to tsunami-hit fishermen

A Caithness Church of Scotland deacon has just returned from an aid mission which has given new hope to a group of disaster-stricken fishermen in India.

John Craw spent January in the south-east state of Andhra Pradesh, whose coastal communities are still battling to recover from the havoc caused by the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004.

The 61-year-old was appalled to learn of the devastation and the ongoing struggle endured by many villagers to make ends meet.

His interest in doing something to help was sparked by his involvement in the faith group Good News Ministries, which employs pastors in the area.

Mr Craw went on to raise over £10,000 to provide hands-on aid and went out to oversee its distribution to an area where hundreds perished in the wake of the disaster.

The bulk of the support has gone to help replace a few of the thousands of fishing boats that were wrecked in the wake of the giant tidal wave.

Before setting off, Mr Craw had arranged for 20 to be built – but, in the course of his visit, placed orders for 30 more.

Mr Craw was delighted to see the 20 new craft – some which bear Caithness names – launched into the Bay of Bengal.

Full story at the John O'Groat Journal.