A Sri Lankan Red Cross volunteer carries boxes of humanitarian aid to a camp in Galle, southern Sri Lanka January 7, 2005.
REUTERS/Yves Herman courtesy www.alertnet.org

The tsunami on 26 December 2004 caused massive destruction and tragic loss of life, with an enormous humanitarian, social and economic impact throughout the region, with political implications on a global scale. The short, medium and long-term consequences of this horrendous natural disaster across Asia and Africa are far-reaching.

A number of international and regional initiatives are taking place to provide an analysis of the situation and to respond appropriately to the region's needs. A number of questions must be addressed. This site provides some resources from ODI experts on natural disasters, aid, debt and humanitarian practice.

Resources

ODI Opinions: The Indian Ocean Tsunami: How can the region recover economically?
How quickly will economic life recover in the areas bordering the Indian Ocean devastated by the tsunami? Countries with extensive 'informal' sectors of small-scale producers can revive strongly after an economic shock.

ODI Opinions: The Indian Ocean Disaster and Tourism
The effect on tourism in tsunami-hit areas of the Indian Ocean has been devastating. Reconstruction is underway, but will the poor workers and entrepreneurs be able to participate? Alongside the chalets and bars, will the fishing boats, sewing machines and rickshaws be replaced too? Reconstruction of the industry must incorporate strategies for pro-poor tourism, to enable those dependent on tourism to rebuild their livelihoods too.

ODI Opinions: The Asian Tsunami: Economic impacts and implications for aid and aid architecture
With the benefit of just a little distance from the immediate impact of the tsunami on 26 December, some important points are becoming clear about the economic impacts and the wider implications for aid and aid architecture.

ODI Opinions: Learning from the Indian Ocean Disaster
The World-wide public attention and political shock waves from the Tsunami provide a brief moment of opportunity in which the international community can address weaknesses in the way it supports the efforts of developing countries and their peoples to try to minimise the impacts of disasters.
A version of this piece was published in The Guardian on Wednesday 12 January.

Background notes on the disaster by ODI Senior Research Associate Ed Clay.

Lessons Learned from Previous Crises for the Tsunami response
The aim of this report is to assist agencies working in the tsunami crisis by highlighting seven generic lessons that have been learned from other natural disasters, specifically floods and earthquakes.

The Indian Ocean tsunami crisis: humanitarian dimensions
Some preliminary reflections on the nature of the catastrophe and the responses to it, including lessons from the past with links to relevant papers, websites and other sources, including research conducted by ODI.

Tsunami relief and reconstruction assistance: in-kind, or in cash?
There has been a massive international response to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Should these funds be spent providing people with the commodities they need, or would it, in some circumstances, make more sense to give people the money so that they can buy what they need themselves? An ongoing HPG study is examining the role that cash, rather than in-kind assistance, should play in the response to emergencies.

ODI: Press Releases

1. The Indian Ocean Tsunami: What are the Economic Consequences? (31 December 2004) (includes links to relevant documents)

2. UN Coordination Role in Indian Ocean Welcomed - But Time to Move UN Reform up the Agenda (7 January 2005) (includes links to relevant documents)

Speaking at ODI on 15th December 2004, Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn, called for radical changes to the International Humanitarian System - Listen to the Meeting