On 26 December 2004 an undersea earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a series of tsunamis that hit the coastline of 12 countries in South East Asia, killing more than 200,000 people and causing widespread damage and destruction.

Four years on, World Vision has been successful in developing and implementing programming aimed at rebuilding tsunami-affected areas. Communities are now steering their futures with new livelihood opportunities, permanent homes, improved infrastructure and reduced vulnerability to future disasters. World Vision’s largest relief response in history came to a close at the end of December 2007.

Thanks to the generous support of the Australian public, corporate Australia and the Australian Government, World Vision raised $118 million for relief and rehabilitation programs.

Response and Programming Highlights

World Vision Australia, in partnership with World Vision International, allocated funding to tsunami response programs in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and Myanmar. The response to affected communities included:

• emergency relief
• reconstruction
• long-term community rehabilitation projects
• child-focused programmes, education, health-care
• advocacy and community accountability initiatives

Highlights and achievements include:

• Construction of more than 11,000 permanent homes
• Construction of 90 schools and 40 preschools
• Construction of health clinics, community halls, child-care and livelihood centres, community offices and warehouses
• Restoration of bridges, canals, roads, a fishing harbour, boat-building centres, farms, factories, marketplaces and a rural development training centre
• Large-scale water and sanitation projects
• Employment opportunities, support and vocational training for almost 40,000 people
• Healthcare services provided to more than 440,000 people
• Educational support given to more than 2,000 teachers and 137,000 children
• Established more than 200 Child-Friendly spaces to provide children with a safe place to play and share their experiences
• Provided child-rights awareness sessions to more than 27,000 parents, community leaders, teachers and government officials

Past Tsunami appeal updates

Previous updates can be found in the World Vision Australia media centre.

Future Plans

World Vision continues to fund long-term community development programs throughout Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Myanmar. World Vision is also funding emergency relief projects in conflict-affected areas of Sri Lanka.

Last Updated: Monday 17 November 2008