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Asia quake and tsunami: commonly asked questions
December 2009
1. How does this disaster compare with others you have responded to?
The tsunami operation is the largest relief and recovery operation in modern history. It is our biggest operation ever outside the two World Wars. Australian Red Cross is running or has completed around 40 programs in three countries and in the past five years has sent more than 100 specialist aid workers to assist in the recovery and rebuilding operation.
2. How bad was the damage?
Imagine 120 average Australian suburbs obliterated. Imagine the coastline between Melbourne and Brisbane devastated. That's the immense scope of this operation. 226,000 people died and millions were left homeless. Roads were destroyed, including main arteries for transport. Entire areas of land where homes had been were left permanently underwater. And with title deeds destroyed, proving who owned land and where has proved a significant hurdle for authorities to overcome.
3. How much money have you raised? How much have you spent to date? What about interest?
For a detailed summary of financial matters related to the Asia Quake and Tsunamis Appeal, see the financial summary page.
4. People have put a lot of trust in you to manage something so big...
Exactly. People in Australia put their trust in Australian Red Cross. We believe they did it for two reasons. Firstly because they trusted Red Cross to respond to the emergency. We did that by providing almost $25 million to the global Red Cross emergency response, and by sending dozens of Australian expert aid workers to assist. That was the right thing to do and by any measure the emergency response was a success.
The second reason people gave to us is because they believe we have the experience to manage big rehabilitation projects directly, and that we wouldn't pass that responsibility on to someone else. And that's just what we've been doing.
5. What types of things have you funded?
Australian Red Cross projects have ranged from multi-million dollar housing construction and water and sanitation initiatives to cleaning wells, harvesting rainwater and helping local Red Cross people get ready to respond to future disasters. We have also helped people establish small businesses and create home gardens so they can support themselves into the future. All projects -- large and small -- have been vital to ensuring that tsunami-affected communities can once again live with dignity.
6. What has the global Red Cross Movement been doing?
More than 4.5 million people have benefited from the support of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement since the tsunami struck. This assistance has been wide-ranging, with the main focus being the reconstruction of physical infrastructure such as homes, schools and health facilities. So far, Red Cross Red Crescent partners have supported the construction of more than 44,000 new houses (of the target number of 55,769 houses). In addition, 356 hospitals and clinics are completed or under construction, more than 620,000 people have been supported access improved water sources, more than 310,000 people have improved waste management facilities. 145 schools have been completed with a further 17 under construction.
7. Have you finished? What have you got left to do?
While much of our work has now been completed, several projects were planned to go beyond the fifth year mark. They include the blood and ambulance projects in Indonesia, which are due to be completed in 2010. In addition, the recent end to civil war in Sri Lanka has allowed us to return to the north of the country, where our focus is on rebuilding houses. More than 650 houses will be funded, with this project expected to be finalised in late 2010.
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