Click here to download the ‘Learning Activities’ (in pdf format) which complete this lesson.here

Learning Objectives To understand how charities work together when there are major disasters. To look at alternatives, make decisions and explain choices. To generate ideas for products after thinking who will use them and what they will be used for.

December 26th, 2004

In minutes 230,000 people lost their lives, and over 430,000 homes were reduced to rubble

Swedish Woman, Karin Svaerd ‘I was yelling at them to run, but they couldn’t hear me.’ Italian Grandmother, Maria Boscani ‘The children are still in shock. We looked death in the face.’

Over 100,000 fishing boats were destroyed. The livelihoods of over 5 million people were thrown into jeopardy

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan ‘This is an unprecedented global catastrophe and it requires an unprecedented global response.’

More than 2,174 miles of roads destroyed. $10 billion in damages in barely 24 hours.

Pope John II ‘This sort of human solidarity, along with the grace of God, gives hope for better days to come in the year that begins today.’ John Sparrow ‘We must look ahead to rehabilitation, and putting communities back on their feet. It will be a long, long process, it will take years. We hope that the donors stay with us.’

DEC appeals are reserved for major disasters. DEC agencies must be able to provide effective and swift assistance. DEC members have to be able to make a difference and be confident that they can spend public donations effectively. They organise teleconferences to monitor situations in several ‘at risk’ countries in the world. This enables members to benefit from each other’s reports and ensures that they are prepared. There must be sufficient public awareness and sympathy for the situation to ensure that the appeal is successful. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)

British Red Cross CAFOD CARE International UK Christian Aid Concern Merlin Oxfam Save the Children Tearfund World Vision

Date Total amount donated 28 th DecemberDEC Appeal goes live£5.3m 29 th DecemberFirst TV & Radio appeals£20m 31 st DecemberWorld record for on-line giving£32m 1 st January 2005 £10 million raised on New Years Day£60m 4 th JanuaryTsunami Earthquake Appeal becomes largest ever DEC Appeal£76m 6 th January £109m 7 th January £138m 11 th January £180m 14 th January £200m 26 th FebruaryTsunami Earthquake Appeal closes£300m Within 24 hours of the DEC appeal going live on 28th December, the DEC received 138,000 phone calls and £5 million was donated, a further £300,000 was donated online.

So what were their priorities? Where did they start? Click for Mindmapping tool

They started by assessing the damage and providing immediate aid: clean water food tents medical care hygiene kits clothing and: helicopters all-terrain vehicles to transport them

Presidents and prime ministers broke through bottlenecks like customs which were slowing down import of essential items or payment procedures, which were creating unacceptable delays.

They had to try to make everything equitable (fair). So they had to co-ordinate the work of the governments, the charities, the local people and private business. They had to involve the people who were affected. They had to think about the transition period as well as the long term plans. Next they started planning for the future:

Child Protection Protecting children separated from parents or orphaned by the tsunami was the first priority. The charities helped children without parents get places in foster families or with their extended families. They also created safe places for children in camps, and trained staff to look after them.

Rebuilding Homes Most families will be living in temporary shelters for at least three years. Families were involved in shelter design. Some Were made from concrete blocks, with electricity, access to water, toilets and play areas. The thatched roofs insulated them from the dry season heat and the pounding monsoon rains.

Community Centres These were built to serve as preschools, clinics, libraries and meeting places for children’s groups. The centres will also provide a safe place for villagers in future emergencies, such as monsoon flooding.

In an emergency, missing school deepens the sense of crisis for children. Restoring school reassures them that life will return to normal. The tsunami destroyed or damaged many schools, and many more became emergency shelters. Bicycles were provided so children could get to school and libraries where they could study. Education kits were distributed to early childhood development centres and welfare centres Education

Livelihoods Cash-for-work programmes have helped families earn income and build shelters and roads, clean wells, recycle damaged materials and repair nets. Tools were provided for carpenters.

Infra-structure Plans were put in place to repair damaged roads and railways. Drains were cleared to prevent the infestation of flies and mosquitoes.

Making Progress New businesses are beginning to spring up all across the areas hit by the Tsunami. In Devanari, a small village on the east cost of southern India, women have been trained to make handbags out of sailcloth. They earn $65 a day. Their husbands have begun fishing again, and life in the village is beginning to return to normal.

Glossary Livelihoods – income, employment Infra-structure – road and rail network Solidarity – team spirit, unity.

If you enjoyed this lesson, why not try: Aid for Geographic Areas at Risk How a dry climate can put people at risk of starvation. How charities can support in the short and long term. Quake How individuals can use their particular skills to help in a disaster. How earthquakes happen. Descriptive writing.

Useful Web Links 0/ stm - New warning system for Tsunami testedhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_ /newsid_ / stm 0/ stm - an animated Tsunami guide for childrenhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_ /newsid_ / stm sunami – teaching about disasters, reconstruction and beyondhttp:// sunami – the Disasters Emergency Committee is an umbrella organisation of 13 major charities who combined provide relief during disasters throughout the World games, quizzes and learning materials on tsunami, earthquakes and other natural disasters for kidshttp:// mi&x=&jtid=8955&client_code=JF+-+Google&c_id=3033 – essential reading on theTsunami, it’s causes, new warning systems and life and recovery in the region since the 2004 disasterhttp://info.newscientist.com/article.php?bbcam=adwds&bbkid=tsuna mi&x=&jtid=8955&client_code=JF+-+Google&c_id=3033