How we are helping tsunami survivors
| An earthquake registering 9 on the Richter Scale struck off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on Boxing Day morning, 2004. It triggered tidal waves up to 30 feet high that swept into coastal villages and seaside resorts. | |
| After the tsunami struck, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement mobilised thousands of staff and volunteers across the affected region to carry out search and rescue, relief distribution and a range of health activities, from first aid to psychological support. | | |  | |
In the years since, the Red Cross has continued to be at the forefront of the response. The British Red Cross has been working in Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka helping people recover from the devastating tsunami.
Indonesia, Maldives and Sri Lanka | |
| In Indonesia we have built more than 2,200 earthquake resistant homes and given more than £4 million in cash to survivors to help rebuild their livelihoods.
In the Maldives, we have built 216 new homes across four islands. Land had to first be reclaimed from the sea on a fifth island, where we are building a further 250 homes. Our livelihoods and disaster management projects in the Maldives have helped more than 1,100 people strengthen their livelihoods. | | |  | |
| In Sri Lanka, we have provided boats and nets to fishing communities in Batticaloa as well as thousands of cash grants to help people develop existing or new livelihoods, such as honey bee production, tree planting, furniture manufacturing and bicycle repair workshops. Nearly 7,000 families displaced by conflict in tsunami areas have also received food and cash grants.
Communities in all three countries have also participated in programmes to prepare them for future disasters. For example, in Indonesia a Red Cross programme has taught people to design and build safer houses, with 15 community buildings constructed as a result.
Learn about our livelihoods programmes
More about building new homes
Find out how we prepare people for future disasters
Read month-by-month accounts of how we have helped people following the tsunami.
2007
2006
2005
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