Millions mourn tsunami victims one year on
-29/12/05
Christian congregations have join
Millions mourn tsunami victims one year on
-29/12/05
Christian congregations have joined tens of thousands of gatherings of people of all faiths and none as they remembered the victims of one of the world’s worst ever natural disasters – the Asian tsunami that struck on Boxing Day (26 December) 2004.
Moments of silence were observed by millions around the world in memory of those devastated by the tidal wave which claimed nearly a quarter of a million dead.
For more than twelve months huge aid, development and relief operations have taken place across the regions affected by the tsunami, but despite all efforts the pain and sorrow felt by its victims remains.
Some 230,000 people were killed by the disaster or are now assumed dead. Thirteen Indian Ocean countries were impacted, with almost three-quarters of the victims coming from Indonesianís Aceh province on the north of Sumatra, says Reuters.
In Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand survivors and relatives of the dead joined national leaders and foreign dignitaries for memorials taking place on the anniversary of the tragedy.
The tsunami was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, which lasted 8 minutes. It created a wave 10 metres high that travelled and crashed into land as far away as East Africa.
One year after the event, Reuters reports that 80 percent of the two million people displaced by the incident are still living in tents, temporary shelters or are staying with friends or family away from their shattered homes.
In Sri Lankaís southern town of Peraliva, religious leaders chanted blessings at the site where 1,000 people when their train was destroyed by the massive tsunami.
The President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, led a two minutes’ silence and placed a floral wreath at the foot of a cresting wave-shaped memorial for the 35,000 who died in the tsunami.
In Indonesia a tsunami warning system was tested for the first time today, which sounded warning sirens on a beach in West Sumatra, where organised evacuation routes have been created for any future tsunamis.
Following the disaster, Indian Ocean countries have been cooperating with the United Nations Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission to set up national and regional warning systems.
Critics say that this should have happened many years ago.
[Also on Ekklesia: The Asian Tsunami one year on; charity extends goat gift scheme to benefit tsunami victims; Archbishop tackles Tsunami faith controversy in Christmas message; churches fill as tsunami prayer and giving mounts; tsunami makes climate change action vital say church leaders; finance ministers agree to freeze debts of tsunami countries; Christian Aid tsunami photo wins Time Magazine acclaim; Aid agencies meet with Blair to discuss tsunami; Catholic and Anglican archbishops pray together for tsunami; Christian Aid warns of social tsunami]
Millions mourn tsunami victims one year on
-29/12/05
Christian congregations have joined tens of thousands of gatherings of people of all faiths and none as they remembered the victims of one of the world’s worst ever natural disasters – the Asian tsunami that struck on Boxing Day (26 December) 2004.
Moments of silence were observed by millions around the world in memory of those devastated by the tidal wave which claimed nearly a quarter of a million dead.
For more than twelve months huge aid, development and relief operations have taken place across the regions affected by the tsunami, but despite all efforts the pain and sorrow felt by its victims remains.
Some 230,000 people were killed by the disaster or are now assumed dead. Thirteen Indian Ocean countries were impacted, with almost three-quarters of the victims coming from Indonesian’s Aceh province on the north of Sumatra, says Reuters.
In Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand survivors and relatives of the dead joined national leaders and foreign dignitaries for memorials taking place on the anniversary of the tragedy.
The tsunami was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, which lasted 8 minutes. It created a wave 10 metres high that travelled and crashed into land as far away as East Africa.
One year after the event, Reuters reports that 80 percent of the two million people displaced by the incident are still living in tents, temporary shelters or are staying with friends or family away from their shattered homes.
In Sri Lanka’s southern town of Peraliva, religious leaders chanted blessings at the site where 1,000 people when their train was destroyed by the massive tsunami.
The President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, led a two minutes’ silence and placed a floral wreath at the foot of a cresting wave-shaped memorial for the 35,000 who died in the tsunami.
In Indonesia a tsunami warning system was tested for the first time today, which sounded warning sirens on a beach in West Sumatra, where organised evacuation routes have been created for any future tsunamis.
Following the disaster, Indian Ocean countries have been cooperating with the United Nations Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission to set up national and regional warning systems.
Critics say that this should have happened many years ago.
[Also on Ekklesia: The Asian Tsunami one year on; charity extends goat gift scheme to benefit tsunami victims; Archbishop tackles Tsunami faith controversy in Christmas message; churches fill as tsunami prayer and giving mounts; tsunami makes climate change action vital say church leaders; finance ministers agree to freeze debts of tsunami countries; Christian Aid tsunami photo wins Time Magazine acclaim; Aid agencies meet with Blair to discuss tsunami; Catholic and Anglican archbishops pray together for tsunami; Christian Aid warns of social tsunami]