• TSUNAMI IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA •
The recent tsunami in South East Asia that struck large parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Somalia, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Tanzania, Seychelles, Bangladesh and Kenya was in the news for months. What makes it so important? This tsunami took everyone into shock as such a tsunami occurred in the 1890’s in this part of the world. This gap of time and the large scale of death and destruction shook humans. People in 40 countries hit by it lost their lives. People were in a holiday mood on the 26th of December 2004 when this wave swiped up nations and destroyed the holiday spirit.
First Prediction of the Tsunami
As there was no tsunami alert system in place in the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, detected the earthquake that triggered the deadly waves. It was not having the resources to contact the countries that were to be affected. The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0 and existed for 8 minutes. It hit Indonesia 15 minutes later. The waves hit the African coastline 7 hours later. Over 220,000 people allover the affected regions lost their lives.
Effect on Marine Life
When the tsunami struck, land and ocean merged in a most terrifying way. People and uprooted trees were carried out to sea, while sharks were left stranded in fields and parking lots. In Thailand, for example, dolphins were swept 500 inland. Many dead and injured sea turtles were left high and dry, and a three-foot (one-meter) shark ended up in a hotel swimming pool. Water, that is life for marine animals, was made to result as death for them by the tsunami
Magnitude of the Disaster-
| Country |
Fatalities |
Missing |
Total |
Indonesia |
130,000 |
37,000 |
167,000 |
Sri Lanka |
35,322 |
Not Available |
35,322 |
India |
9,330 |
3,077 |
12,407 |
Thailand |
8,212 |
Not Available |
8,212 |
Somalia |
78 |
211 |
289 |
Maldives |
82 |
26 |
108 |
Malaysia |
69 |
6 |
75 |
Myanmar |
61 |
Not Available |
61 |
Tanzania |
13 |
Not Available |
13 |
Seychelles |
2 |
Not Available |
2 |
Bangladesh |
2 |
Not Available |
2 |
Kenya |
1 |
Not Available |
1 |
Total |
183,172 |
40,320 |
223,497 |
Impact
The governments in all the affected countries are trying to work very hard to reconstruct the houses that were badly damaged from the tsunami. In Sri Lanka, some people say that they are still living in tents. It is believed that it might take at least two years to build houses for all these affected people. The government must educate the children who suffered from the tsunami. Some people are still suffering from the tsunami; some others haven’t still got medicines.
The following are the dire circumstances that various tsunami affected countries faced-
INDIA
- An epidemic of Malaria had spread that killed 100000 people.
- An outbreak of cholera was also possible.
INDONESIA
- WHO recommended to set up an earthquake management policy.
- WHO warned of a deadly epidemic.
- WHO warned of diseases like diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid.
- Death toll doubled after outbreaks of epidemics.
- Mental illness affected one eighth of population.
- WHO still requires medical workers.
MALDIVES
- Large number of crows died due to a deadly virus.
- Half a million people died.
- Water contamination and psychosocial problems broke out.
- Survivors are at risk from epidemic
SRI LANKA
- WHO asked Sweden to send 200000 doses of Durakol.
- Water borne diseases and psychological problems broke out.
- Most of land went underwater.
- An outbreak of cholera was possible.
- The population had to suffer outbreaks of lung diseases.
- About 80000 people became homeless.
Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation
Thousands of people are still missing and thousands have become homeless by the devastation in the Asian subcontinent. The main task of tsunami-hit countries is now to provide relief to the victims. 160 agencies are working for TSUNAMI RELIEF AND REHABILITATION in South Asia. Some of them are -
- CASA (Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action)
CASA is engaged in reaching out to 50000 families with supply of ration and relief materials in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerela, who were the worst affected in the country.
- US AID (for tsunami reconstruction
The following figures show the donations collected by the US AID-
Total USG Humanitarian and Recovery Assistance |
$350,000,000 |
Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction Fund: |
$631,000,000* |
India: |
$17.9 million |
Indonesia: |
$397.3 million |
Maldives: |
$8.7 million |
Sri Lanka: |
$134.6 million |
Thailand: |
$5.1 million |
Regional, other countries and program management: |
$33 million |
- WHO- (world health organization
“The mental anguish of those who escaped the tsunami is made far worse as many of them have lost their homes and relatives, jobs and possessions.” Said WHO’s regional director in South East Asia. He continues “These people urgently need support. Many can cope and will gradually come to terms with what has happened. But others will sit motionless or cry to death. If support is not urgently provided, the long term effect of the tsunami will be terrible.” The WHO is keeping in mind this note and providing relief and psychological counseling to victims but is also complaining of lack of volunteers.
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