The tsunami that struck Asia on 26 December 2004 was one of the worst natural disasters in modern history. Although India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand bore the brunt of this catastrophe, several other countries – including Myanmar, Somalia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malaysia, Seychelles and Tanzania- were also affected.
Over 280,000 people are believed to have died and 500,000 people were injured. A considerable number needed urgent medical or surgical treatment. Over one million people were displaced from their homes. Overall, an estimated five million people were directly or indirectly affected. Damage and destruction to infrastructure left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and without adequate water/sanitation and healthcare facilities.