|
"The massive earthquake and resulting tsunamis in South Asia are a tragic reminder of just how vulnerable we are - and how fragile are our defences - when confronted by nature's destructive powers. The human toll wrought by the catastrophe in Asia is incalculable. Millions of people living in coastal areas that rim the Indian Ocean have lost relatives, their homes and their livelihoods to the ocean's mighty swelling."
Jan Egeland
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
and Emergency Relief Coordinator (2003-2006)
|
On 26 December 2004, a series of undersea earthquakes known in the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, generated tsunamis -- massive tidal waves -- that left an estimated 170,000-250,000 dead. The reported magnitudes of the earthquakes ranged from 8.9 to 9.0. The tsunamis destroyed not only lives but also homes and livelihoods of tens of thousands in the coastal areas of India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Maldives, as well as Myanmar, Seychelles and as far as Somalia. More...
Worldwide solidarity with the affected populations has been swift and generous and will continue well beyond the immediate disaster period. The OCHA flash appeal reflected the efforts of some forty United Nations (UN) agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to plan and implement a strategic, efficient and coordinated response to the needs of some five million people. For financial tracking of donations, please click here.
|
Resources
General Assembly resolution A/RES/60/15 on strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, adopted without change on 14 November 2005 (A/60/L.20 draft)
General Assembly resolution on the Tsunami A/RES/59/279 Adopted 19 January 2005
OCHA Geneva Natural Disasters Highlights
Humanitarian Updates/ Situation Reports
www.reliefweb.int
Press Releases
-2006
-2005
-2004
Situation Reports
-2006
-2005
-2004
Links
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
ReliefWeb
Humanitarian Information Centers (HICs):
Sri Lanka
Sumatra (Aceh)
Agencies (Tsunami page):
FAO
ILO
IOM
UNDP
UNFPA
UN Habitat
UNICEF
UNIFEM
WHO
|