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Print2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
Mrs Ina Wira, aged 27, holds the cocoa pods she has just cut from her garden in Satellit, Nias. This crop, along with coffee, is the basis of her family's income. Oxfam provides business and vocational training to farmers, fisher folk and traders on Nias to help them better market their products. Photo: Jim Holmes/Oxfam
A remarkable amount has been achieved in tsunami-hit countries since enormous waves smashed their way across the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004. The millions of dollars donated by Australians and others from around the world have made – and continue to make – a huge difference to the lives of affected communities. Most of the people made homeless in the catastrophe now have a home and are back at work. Three-quarters of the way through our tsunami response, we are proud of what we have achieved.
We want the tsunami recovery to leave a positive legacy, and for people to be left in a better state than they were in before the tsunami. Oxfam always seeks to involve communities in programming to ensure they have the skills and the confidence to build on what has been achieved after we leave. We also work closely with national and local governments in affected countries to ensure that gains made during the tsunami recovery – in terms of empowering communities, promoting gender justice and mitigating the impact of future disasters – are not lost.
Stories and images
Changing attitudes to women through theatre – Aceh, December 2007
Ensuring equal rights for men and women is a core part of Oxfam’s tsunami response in Aceh. With the help of one of the Indonesian province’s most famous storytellers, Oxfam is taking a theatre show on the road to help change attitudes toward women.
Permaculture takes root – Aceh, December 2007
Lamsujen used to be the frontline of Aceh’s 30-year conflict. But since the tsunami, Aceh has been at peace, and with Oxfam support, this fertile, tranquil spot has become home to the province’s only permaculture school.
Housing the most in need – Sri Lanka, December 2007
Ponnomma is looking forward to moving into her house. The 54-year-old widow has never lived in a house like this before. It is one of 600 low-cost houses being built by Oxfam partners in Sri Lanka for poor families who were indirectly affected by the tsunami.
Artificial reefs give hope to tsunami fishermen – India, December 2007
The tsunami severely depleted fish stocks in southern India, causing further misery to communities already traumatised by the disaster. In the first initiative of its kind in India, Oxfam partner CEE is creating artificial fish habitats to boost the fish population and with it the livelihoods of vulnerable communities.
In pictures: the tsunami, three years on (PDF 4.8MB)
A snapshot of Oxfam's work in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.