I landed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands a month after the devastating 2004 Asian Tsunami, which struck southeastern India alongside Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Thailand. The islands bore scars of immense destruction, with nearly 2,000 deaths reported and 5,500 people missing, many presumed dead. Yet another wave followed this catastrophe – a “Tsunami of Aid” poured in from across the world as the scale of the disaster became clear. Despite the much-needed financial aid, the disaster exposed glaring gaps in preparedness, coordination, and long-term recovery planning.
The absence of an early warning system in the Indian Ocean left little time for evacuations. Coordination inefficiencies among governments, NGOs, and agencies led to duplication of efforts, while the scale of the disaster overwhelmed local capacities. Aid distribution was delayed and unequal, with marginalised and remote communities often underserved due to damaged infrastructure. Infrastructure losses, including destroyed jetties and broken communication networks, hampered relief efforts, and left many areas without power or transport for weeks.
Cultural and linguistic diversity presented barriers in providing inclusive aid, particularly for indigenous communities whose needs were overlooked. The tsunami devastated key livelihoods such as fisheries and tourism, delaying economic recovery. It also inflicted severe environmental damage, with mangroves and coral reefs destroyed. The focus on short-term relief created gaps in long-term recovery, which left many displaced families in temporary shelters for years.
Two Decades of Progress in DRR
The devastation was clear, as was the need to radically overhaul how we as a global community needed to change how we approach preparing for disasters. With better preparation, better coordination and better inclusion of those most at risk, disasters, even at this scale, can be avoided. Over the next two decades, the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) sector has evolved to address these issues. The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, established in 2005, ensures real-time alerts. National authorities like India’s National Disaster Management Authority now lead coordinated responses, strengthened by localised aid tailored to cultural contexts. Ecosystem-based approaches, like mangrove restoration, and risk-informed development link recovery to sustainable practices. Thankfully, these advancements have significantly improved disaster preparedness and resilience, transforming lessons into action.
Building Resilience, Learning from the Past
The 2004 Asian tsunami was a wake-up call for the international community and us as DRR professionals.. Today, the evolution of DRR shows us the importance of learning from past disasters to build resilient communities and ecosystems. We know that by embedding sustainability, inclusivity, and preparedness into recovery processes, we can ensure a safer and more equitable future for vulnerable populations. We also know that the sector must continue to evolve as the world faces an ever-growing number of hazards – not least because of the climate crisis. At GNDR ware committed to ensuring that the communities most at risk have the tools, resources and influence to play a central role in its evolution.
