2004 Boxing Day Tsunami eyewitness, Prabu Deepan, who is now Tearfund’s Asia Regional Director, says:
‘20 years later, it’s still the people on the doorstep of disaster who are the unsung local heroes providing the most immediate relief and support to people affected by devastation. That’s why Tearfund works with the local church and community to map hazards, build resilience and set up early warning systems so that people can be better equipped to save lives and respond in the first few days of a crisis and beyond.
‘The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami unleashed catastrophic destruction on my home country, Sri Lanka. The scale of the devastation was overwhelming, with huge loss of lives and homes, yet amidst the chaos, the efforts of local organisations shone through. With limited resources and in the face of human suffering, they worked with incredible speed and compassion. From providing immediate relief to survivors to supporting long-term recovery efforts, including relocation, rebuilding ways of making a living, and mental health support. Their actions showed how local organisations can act fast and effectively in the face of disaster.
‘The Tsunami was unprecedented, but reflecting on the many disasters over the past 20 years, I wish we’d had the Early Warning Systems we have now in place sooner. Anticipating potential threats and hazards means local communities are able to prepare, reduce risks ahead of time, put in place measures that help in their particular context- whether that be evacuation plans and shelters, raised or reinforced houses, or emergency stockpiles like blankets and hygiene materials. Ultimately, this means lives are saved. The work we’re doing today, investing in technology and community training will strengthen resilience and lessen the impact of future disasters.
‘Churches particularly are uniquely positioned to provide not only immediate relief but also long-term care, such as trauma healing. Our continued work alongside local churches has focused on equipping them to connect with community leaders and networks, access resources, and understand how they can play a vital role. Since 2004, we have seen more churches respond to disasters, saving more lives, livelihoods and homes.’
ENDS
Notes to editors
For further information please contact Maddie Gordon [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 07929 339813.
- Tearfund is a Christian charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries. We tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters and challenging injustice. We believe an end to extreme poverty is possible. Tearfund is also a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. For more information about the work of Tearfund, please visit www.tearfund.org.
- During the 2004 Tsunami Tearfund responded in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Somalia.
- Photo credit Shahadat Hossain/Tearfund: Photo shows demonstration of an early warning announcement volunteers in Bangladesh. This is done to make the villagers aware to move quickly to the safety of the local cyclone centre.