Lives rebuilt

In December 2004 the world witnessed a natural disaster unlike most others. The Boxing Day tsunami claimed the lives of over 200,000 people and displaced millions in countries around the Indian Ocean. The damage caused by the disaster was phenomenal. Billions of dollars worth of housing and infrastructure -- the equivalent of 120 Australian suburbs -- was destroyed. Highways and main arterial roads were wiped out; entire tracts of residential land were left permanently underwater. When it happened, people put their trust in Red Cross than any other organisation to meet the immediate and long term needs of people affected by the tragedy.    Since the disaster Australian Red Cross has played a pivotal role in a Red Cross tsunami relief effort that has reached well over 1.7 million people. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Australian public, our tsunami appeal raised more than A$127 million (including donations and interest earned, which is always reinvested into tsunami projects). This money is funding around 40 rehabilitation and recovery programs in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. We thank all our donors for their support and through these pages seek to show you how our work has improved the lives of tens of thousands of people. Program highlights Maldives • Clean up completed on 74 islands, removing the equivalent of 2000 garbage trucks of tsunami debris.  Country operations closed in July 2007.  watch video | download fact sheet Sri Lanka • More than 1,100 houses completed or under construction. • Country office closed in December 2007 with more than 90,000 people benefiting from programs.  watch video | download fact sheet Indonesia •  More than 1,300 houses completed or under construction. • Ambulance service running in Banda Aceh, available to more than 500,000 people locally. • Multi site construction program set for completion in 2008.  watch video1 | download fact sheet  watch video2

In Sri Lanka, people are able to build their own houses thanks to Red Cross support.  watch a video of a project in Sri Lanka Organic community gardens are delivering rewards in Indonesia. Watch a video of a project in Indonesia:  video 1 |  video2 Women are taking the lead with new recycling systems in the Maldives.  watch video of a project in the Maldives