Out of the box: The tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004

Date:	14.11.2024
Time:	12:00 - 13:00
Location:	Zoom

In the morning of Boxing Day 2004, a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered one of the most devastating disasters of the 21st century. At least 230,000 people died, many remained missing. A catastrophe with dramatic consequences for the people in the region and a decisive turning point in the humanitarian aid system, which had to admit to many mistakes.

End of December marks the 20th anniversary of the tsunami on the coasts of the Indian Ocean. At the start of a series of events CHA organises together with the German Red Cross, we looked back on the events of 2004 together with eyewitnesses and found out how they experienced the disaster, what it meant for their work and what deficits in humanitarian response became apparent from their point of view.

To give insights from different perspectives, we were happy to welcome:

• Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, former President of Brot für die Welt and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
• Katrin Wirsching, former Head of Institutional Strategy and Organisational Development, International Committee of the Red Cross
• Dr Mahesh Gunasekara, Director General, Red Cross Sri Lanka

Ralf Südhoff, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Action, facilitated the discussion.