Preliminary Appeal for Asia Earthquake & Tsunamis

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 6,163,488

A 9-magnitude undersea earthquake off the west coast of the northern Indonesian island of Sumatra set off massive tidal waves on Sunday morning (26 December), which slammed into coastal towns and villages across south and south east Asia, killing thousands of people.

The quake— one of the world's most powerful in a century— triggered tidal waves, which swept across the Indian Ocean, striking coastal regions of ten countries from Asia to the East Coast of Africa. The most affected countries are Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Thailand. The tsunami also swept across many low-lying coasts from Malaysia and Myanmar and islands like the ones that make up the Maldives. Over 60,000 people have been killed across the region. Hundreds of people have also been reported missing, and the death toll is continuing to rise. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced and millions affected throughout the region. With more areas being reached the destruction is becoming clearer and each day the casualty toll is being revised upwards.

ACT International partners throughout the region have already mobilised relief assistance teams and relief supplies for churches and others able to give immediate assistance. The assistance includes food, emergency shelter materials, medicines, and non-food items such as blankets, clothing and cooking utensils. Assessment missions are currently underway, and co-ordination is taking place with government and other (I)NGOs. The relief phase will continue for several weeks, but already the vast scale of the rehabilitation is apparent.

Millions have lost homes and livelihoods and much rebuilding will be required. In many coastal areas the land will need major cleansing and reclamation efforts which will require long term food for work schemes to assist families to recover their livelihoods.

This is a mega-emergency. This appeal is a preliminary one put together in the first days of the crisis. It will be followed within two weeks by a major revision as medium term plans are developed following assessment and coordination endeavours.

Project Completion Date: 31 December 2005

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

Jenny Borden
Interim Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office