Tsunami: Response to the Catastrophe

The earthquake that occurred under the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004, had a magnitude of 9. It triggered a massive tsunami that affected several countries, particularly Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern India, Thailand, the Maldives, and Somalia. In the immediate aftermath, five million people needed humanitarian assistance. An estimated 227,000 people have died.

As the full scope of the crisis emerged, the Canadian government committed $425 million toward a comprehensive response until 2009. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) manages $383 million of the total amount. Some $213 million, eligible for matching funds from the Government of Canada, has been raised by the 23 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participating in the Matching Fund Program. CIDA responded immediately to the tsunami by working with multilateral and NGO partners to channel Canada's aid. Following a substantial relief effort, the rebuilding is underway. Despite challenges, reconstruction activities are progressing well. CIDA continues to work with its partners towards reconstruction activities in the tsunami-affected areas. To guide these efforts, CIDA developed reconstruction strategies for Indonesia and Sri Lanka that are based on the long-term needs identified by the governments themselves.