MDP Pledges To House Tsunami Victims Within A Year

MDP Pledges To House Tsunami Victims Within A Year: "The largest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the first political party to officially unveil policies ahead of the country’s first multiparty polls, has pledged to house all 5,000 tsunami victims in a year.

Part of a housing policy unveiled today, presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) revealed plans to privatise the housing market and aims to “provide housing to every Maldivian” in five years."

In Asia » Blog Archive » From Thailand: Hundreds of Tsunami Survivors Receive Legal Identification

In Asia » Blog Archive » From Thailand: Hundreds of Tsunami Survivors Receive Legal Identification: "From Thailand: Hundreds of Tsunami Survivors Receive Legal Identification
Thailand

Over 200 new identification cards were distributed by Governor Kanjana Keeman to Thai citizens at a ceremony held in Ranong province on Tuesday, March 25th. The new I.D. card holders are participants of a major initiative led by The Asia Foundation’s Tsunami Rights and Legal Aid Referral Center (T-LAC) program, which provided free DNA testing and guidance to each family through the application process. In addition, 200 children were added to their family’s household registration list, which will automatically qualify them for a state I.D. card once they reach the legal age of 15."

FACTBOX-Tsunami donations around $12 billion | Environment | Reuters

FACTBOX-Tsunami donations around $12 billion | Environment | Reuters: "SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Government and multilateral agencies have pledged around $7 billion in aid for nations hit by the December 26 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean, while global private donations amount to around $5 billion."

The Jakarta Post - Indonesia thanks world for post-tsunami aid

The Jakarta Post - Indonesia thanks world for post-tsunami aid: "Indonesia thanks world for post-tsunami aid

When the deadly tsunami devastated Aceh and Nias in 2004, the global response was unprecedented. Millions of people -- from children to senior citizens -- donated huge amounts of money and goods to tsunami victims."

Aid Efforts Continue Well After Devastating 2004 Tsunami | Asian Tribune

Aid Efforts Continue Well After Devastating 2004 Tsunami | Asian Tribune: "Aid Efforts Continue Well After Devastating 2004 Tsunami Tue, 2007-10-30 13:38 Asian Tribune carries the following account appeared in the United States Department of State web portal on Monday, 29 October USINFO giving details of what has been done to bring relief to the Tsunami devastated nations in the Indian Ocean and the continued rebuilding of lives in those countries well after the December 2004 calamity.

By Ralph Dannheisser USINFO Special Correspondent Washington, 29 October -- Almost three years after a tsunami wreaked havoc along the rim of the Indian Ocean, survivors in the hardest-hit countries -- Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand -- are still trying to put their lives back together.
A broad range of governments, nongovernmental aid groups and individuals continues to provide resources and expertise to help them in the process.
The tsunami, one of the worst natural disasters of modern times, was spawned by a massive ocean-based earthquake that struck on December 26, 2004, centered off the northwest coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. With a magnitude estimated between 9.1 and 9.3, the quake was among the largest ever recorded."

SRI LANKA: Not All Tsunami Reconstruction Is Equal

SRI LANKA: Not All Tsunami Reconstruction Is Equal: "SRI LANKA: Not All Tsunami Reconstruction Is Equal
By Amantha Perera

Credit:Brennon Jones/IRIN

Displaced families near Jaffna town, many have only one meal a day.

COLOMBO, Jul 26 (IPS) - It has been 30 months since the waves struck the coasts of Sri Lanka in the morning hours of Dec. 26, 2004. Since then, in a pattern that has become symbolic of the divided nature of the South Asian island, parts of the country have motored ahead with the reconstruction effort, while others have lagged woefully behind.

And it is the worst-hit areas that have suffered the lowest recovery success rates. In the north-east of the country, beset by the resurgence of sectarian violence in the last 19 months, government authorities and aid agencies have been sometimes unable to reach programme locations while others have been suspended outright.

Overall, the reconstruction rate looks satisfactory. More than 80 percent of the 118,000 permanent housing needs will be completed by year's end, according to officials at the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), the main government authority overseeing the rebuilding effort."

Aust pledges $2m tsunami relief to Solomons. 02/04/2007. ABC News Online

Aust pledges $2m tsunami relief to Solomons. 02/04/2007. ABC News Online: "Aust pledges $2m tsunami relief to Solomons

Australia will give up to $2 million to help the Solomon Islands recover from today's earthquake and tsunami.

Aircraft from the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) are being used to assess the damage in the area."

The Electric New Paper, Singapore - The Electric New Paper News

The Electric New Paper, Singapore - The Electric New Paper News: "WHEN Miss Frieda Chan returned from a week-long trip to Sri Lanka two years ago, she checked herself into a chalet on Sentosa - alone.

There, she cried for three days.

The 31-year-old is a social worker.

She was so moved by the stories of loss and grief she had heard from the victims of the tsunami disaster that she needed some time to get a grip on her emotions."

:: Daily Mirror - FINANCIAL TIMES ::

:: Daily Mirror - FINANCIAL TIMES ::: "he government will be seeking unconditional support from the donor community at today’s Sri Lanka Development Forum 2007 opening in Galle.

Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said on Saturday the government is not ready to accept any conditions placed on them by the donor community.

On the other hand he stated that the 10 year plan outlined by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, will be presented to the donor community for endorsement.

Siyambalapitiya said the donor community will be able to express their concerns and take up issues tabled before them as this is “not a pledging conference”."

Indian tsunami victims sold their kidneys to survive | Society | SocietyGuardian.co.uk

Indian tsunami victims sold their kidneys to survive | Society | SocietyGuardian.co.uk: "Police in southern India are investigating reports that poverty-stricken survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami sold their kidneys because of the slow pace of rehabilitation after the disaster. Up to 150 people, mainly women around the coastal city of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu, are believed to have sold their organs for 50,000 rupees (£575) in the past few months.

The tsunami in 2004 wreaked havoc on the Indian coastline, killing thousands, destroying fishing fleets and leaving tens of thousands of people destitute."