1. Introduction

Il y a deux ans, le monde était sous le choc après la tragédie du tsunami qui s'était abattu sur les côtes de l'Asie du Sud et du Sud-Est. Aujourd'hui, les conséquences dramatiques de cette catastrophe naturelle sont encore visibles. Cependant, l'espoir est là: la solidarité et l'afflux de dons sans précédent ont permis à la Croix-Rouge suisse (CRS) d'acheminer rapidement une aide d'urgence aux populations sinistrées ainsi que de planifier et de mettre en œuvre de nombreux programmes de reconstruction en Inde, au Sri Lanka et en Indonésie depuis le début de l'année 2005.

Foreward

From the earliest reports of the terrible devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami on 26 December 2004, it was clear to humanitarian organizations like Oxfam that we would be required to provide emergency response and reconstruction on an unprecedented scale.

The total death toll of 230,000 people told only part of the story. Nearly two million people were forced from their homes. Millions, too, saw their livelihoods wiped out or threatened. Many of those affected were already living in poverty. The people of Aceh,

LOOKING BACK

There have been many words used to describe the response to the tsunami: accountability, coordination, development, human rights, LRRD (Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development), local capacity, professionalism to name but a few. These words speak of the fundamental principles of humanitarian assistance, however they continue to represent the biggest challenges facing the international community.

Yet, despite these challenges, it is evident there has been a positive impact, not to mention significant improvements,

U.S. agencies support system development at regional, national, local levels

By Cheryl Pellerin, USINFO Staff Writer

Washington - Two years have passed since a massive 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra triggered tsunami waves that inundated the shores of the Indian Ocean, killing nearly 230,000 people - people who had no warning of the approaching disaster.

Today, with help from experts in many countries, a warning system is beginning to take shape in the Indian Ocean, hazard-warning centers in the United States and Japan keep an interim watch

Overview

The headlines are gone.

Two years after the Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 26, 2004, work continues on the long, hard road to recovery. Direct Relief's work in tsunami-affected areas has continued unabated.

This report is about our work and expenditures of tsunami funds entrusted to our organization, both of which have been conducted in strict adherence to guidelines and self-imposed accountability standards we established immediately after the tsunami. We are pleased to report how these activities have been conducted and how resources have been spent.

Shivani Chaudhry

Hundreds of families are still living in decaying tar sheet sheds, worn out with severe monsoons, strong summers and perennial humidity...

Déjà vu. Not a word or sentiment or experience one would associate with resettlement sites. Definitely not with rehabilitation. But as I walk into the Akkaraipettai temporary shelter for tsunami survivors in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, I feel I have seen it all before. Because I have. Nothing has changed. Nothing has changed for the better, I should say. Because the shelter is sadly, even worse than when I first visited

BANGKOK, 24th December 2006: Habitat for Humanity announced today that in the two years since the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami, the organization has assisted nearly 10,000 families with permanent housing. Habitat has built, repaired and rehabilitated houses with tsunami-affected families in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

"At the same time that we have been building houses we have also been building capacity in the Habitat national organizations in these four countries. A transition process is under way to our regular programs, and we will continue to work with communities

In the two years following the Indian Ocean tsunami, InterAction member organizations working in the affected countries have spent $1.028 billion, or 58 percent, of the $1.8 billion they received from extraordinarily generous individuals, corporations and foundations in the United States since the disaster. A third tsunami accountability report by InterAction describes in detail the relief and reconstruction programs undertaken with these funds by the 46 InterAction members who remained engaged in recovery efforts in 2006. The report can be downloaded

By Rob McBride

THAEZANGUADA, India, December 2006 - Stepping carefully between puddles left by the latest monsoon, Jeeva moves from one house to the next on an important mission: ensuring that her neighbours know how to use their new toilets.

The young woman's village is a thriving fishing community on the coast of Tamil Nadu State in southern India. It has undergone radical changes since the tsunami. One of the largest transformations has been the introduction of brand new homes, complete with indoor toilets.

Before the tsunami, very few of Thaezanguada's