Oxfam IrelandO

Asia Tsunami

Making progress, changing lives

"For once the scale of the response reflects the scale of the disaster and what we have been able to accomplish so far has only been possible thanks to the unprecedented generosity of ordinary people around the world," said Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director of Oxfam International.

In January 2005, soon after launching our emergency response, Oxfam's executive directors created the Oxfam International Tsunami Fund - a trust fund of money raised by all twelve affiliates of Oxfam International. Its purpose is to ensure the highest level of co-ordination and effectiveness of our programme and to ensure the public can see how their donations have been spent. The Oxfam Tsunami Fund will total more than £132 million - a sum that includes donations from the UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal. Oxfam will spend this total over five years and ensure that no more than 6% of the income is spent on administration.

The tsunami affected people in different ways, for example, in some cases the main bread winner was killed (often the father) and in many cases it was the carer (often the mother). Good relief and reconstruction programmes have to respond appropriately to the differential needs of women and men and with people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Oxfam is working to ensure that all these groups are able to participate in its programmes.

How are donations being spent?
So far Oxfam has spent £14.1 million on our tsunami response in seven countries. Oxfam's main programmes are in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia where Oxfam is already helping over one million people get back to work and rebuild their lives. Our programme work covers three main areas:

  1. Shelter - The construction of appropriate temporary and permanent shelters that meet internationally accepted standards (Sphere standards) and are built through cash-for-work programs that empower women and other vulnerable groups.
  2. Livelihoods - Helping women and men affected by the tsunami get back to work and earn a living, particularly those from the poorest or marginalized communities.
  3. Providing clean water and sanitation and educating communities about public health.

This stage needs commitment for the long term rather than quick-fix solutions. There will undoubtedly be obstacles to overcome but we are well placed to deliver help to the people affected for years to come.

"Our long-term reconstruction programme aims to give people the chance of building something better than the poverty that existed before the tsunami," added Hobbs.