UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka pays tribute to victims of 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

On the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André French paid tribute to the loss of more than 225,000 people, including 35,000 in Sri Lanka, and emphasized the resilience demonstrated by affected communities in the country.

French also highlighted progress made in disaster preparedness and regional cooperation through the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System.

“Today, we mark 20 years since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a tragedy that killed more than 225,000 people across the region, including 35,000 in Sri Lanka,” French said in a statement Thursday. , at least 10,000 of whom were children. This day remains etched in our collective memory as a deep loss. In Sri Lanka, the tsunami devastated communities, displaced hundreds of thousands, destroyed livelihoods, and left grieving families searching for loved ones. Entire towns and villages were swept away, and for those who survived, the scars of that day still linger. “On this solemn anniversary, we honor the memory of the victims and express our deepest condolences to those who are grieving their loss.”

“Over the past 20 years, significant progress has been made at the local and regional level to reduce vulnerabilities,” he/she said. Community preparedness has been prioritized in Sri Lanka through nationwide tsunami evacuation drills, awareness campaigns and disaster education programs in schools, empowering communities with the knowledge and skills to act appropriately and rapidly in emergencies.

he/she further said that the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System has been a game-changer at the regional level.

“This collaborative network of 28 countries, including Sri Lanka, has significantly enhanced the region’s capacity to detect and respond to tsunamis, enabling timely and accurate alerts that could save lives. Building on this progress, the United Nations is committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to build resilience and protect communities from the risks posed by natural disasters,” French said.

The morning of 26 December 2004 witnessed the worst disaster in Indonesia’s history. A magnitude 9.1 submarine earthquake struck the Indian Ocean subduction zone, causing a massive tsunami that destroyed 800 kilometers of coastal areas of Aceh province and saw flooding up to 6 kilometers inland. It was the first global disaster of the 21st century and one of the deadliest disasters in recent human history.

According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), post-disaster assessment of damage and loss revealed a staggering toll on the disaster, including more than 2,20,000 human deaths and loss of 1,39,000 houses, 73,869 hectares of agricultural land. involves the destruction of. 2,618 kilometers of roads, 3,415 schools, 104,500 small-medium enterprises, 13,828 fishing boats, 119 bridges, 669 government buildings, 517 health facilities, 1,089 places of worship, 22 ports, and 8 airports and airstrips.

The cost of reconstruction was estimated to be US$4.9 billion, while funds committed from various sources, including donors from the international community and the Government of Indonesia, amounted to US$6.7 billion.