The US – and many other nations, for that matter – clearly had the capability of providing much more to the affected areas than they actually did in the critical months and years following the disaster. In the period that immediately followed the tsunami, the Bush Administration could hardly muster what amounted to a fraction of a Powerball jackpot to offer up to the people of a dozen traumatized nations. Meanwhile, the U.S. was busy spending billions and billions to kill thousands upon thousands of people in Iraq. Three years later, the killing continues in Iraq while the people of countries like Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia continue their struggle for recovery.
Even today, on the anniversary of the tragedy, the people of Sri Lanka are suffering through torrential rainstorms while landslides have buried scores in Indonesia. Despite some degree of progress in the restoration of infrastructure, the region remains scarred in many respects and reconstruction is hampered by corruption, apathy and new natural disasters such as the recent weather-related emergencies. The ramifications of the horrific events of the tsunami and its aftermath will surely be felt by generations to come.
Further reading
Asia remembers tsunami victims three years on AFP
Tsunami Survivors Remember 2004 Disaster NPR
Tsunami Recovery Uncovers New Challenges AP
greeklish.org articles
South Asia Tsunami: Sri Lanka
South Asia Tsunami: India
South Asia Tsunami: One year later
