Asian Tsunami Disaster

Returning to the water: fishermen in Sri Lanka launch their Muslim Hands donated boat.

MH Tsunami Work

The earthquake and the consequent tsunami wave that struck South East Asia on December 26th, 2004 was the beginning of the world's worst natural disaster in living memory. Within hours over 300,000 people had lost their lives and millions more had been made homeless.

MH allocated $1,860,000 to help in the immediate aftermath. Teams from the UK office were dispatched to Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. These included a qualified trauma surgeon and workers with experience from the recent Iraq and Sudan emergencies. Provision of shelter, safe water, medical aid and food parcels were a priority.

As news of the disaster broke, MH South East Asia (MHSEA) and partners responded immediately. Within 48 hours trucks filled with aid were headed to some of the worst hit regions and dozens of our volunteers were helping with the distribution of aid, treating the injured and burying the dead.

» Video: MH Tsunami Disaster Report (opens new window)

» About MH Emergency Relief

The MHSEA office in Aceh is now overseeing the rebuilding of homes, schools and businesses in the area. In Sri Lanka, alongside rebuilding homes MH has been providing poor fishermen with boats so they can once again provide for themselves and their families.

The Work Continues

Of course, as the world's cameras and attention moves on it can seem like the emergency has passed. The current reality could hardly be further from the truth. Whilst the immediate needs of people are being met and the emergency response phase of relief work has been completed alhamdulillah, much remains to be done with the reconstruction of homes, businesses, schools and communities.

Muslim Hands' work is now focused on long term development re-establishing communities through:

• Reconstruction of housing.
• Income generation schemes, especially in the fishing industry.
• Provision of education to the younger generation by rebuilding and supporting schools and kindergartens.
• Helping orphans through the Orphan Sponsorship Scheme.
• Population establishment through support for young families and the reduction of infant mortality.

Muslim Hands' commitment to tsunami affected regions remains firm and over the coming months and years we will, with your support, continue to help people through this difficult chapter in their lives and re-establish the vibrant communities that once lined the coasts of South East Asia.

Helping Save the Environment in Indonesia

The earth is undergoing rapid destruction as a result of irresponsible human behaviour. Our lack of understanding the balance of Allah's (swt) creation is giving rise to high levels of pollution, destruction of forests and other environmental resources.

Muslims make up at least one fifth of the world's population and can contribute greatly in changing things for the better, and helping ensure that future generations have a safe and sound environment to live in.

This year Muslim Hands with partner organisations, including IFEES and WWF, will be running programmes in Aceh and North Sumatra, Indonesia aimed at protecting this beautiful part of the world from exploitation and destruction. MH will be holding workshops for local Islamic scholars, senior government officials and other charities active in the area, looking at the problems of deforestation and river pollution.

The three planned workshops will be followed by community mobilisation programmes.

Stories and Reports

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Infant Mortality Campaign

In 2005 Muslim Hands launched a global campaign for the reduction of infant mortality, designed to reduce needless deaths from preventable causes through education and action. One of the areas to benefit was tsunami-hit Sri Lanka.

Tsunami Feedback Report (2005)

Personal accounts from the MH UK Forward Team on their experiences on visiting tsunami affected regions in the immediate aftermarth, and an update on some of MH's initial emergency relief work.

News and Press Releases

• Muslim Hands Relief Efforts in Nias, Indonesia -- 30 Mar, 05
• Showing Tsunami Survivors That All is Not Lost -- 14 Feb, 05
• Charity Relieves Distant Shores -- 08 Feb, 05
• All City Should Take Pride in Muslim Hands -- 14 Jan, 05
• MH Arrives in Sri Lanka -- 07 Jan, 05
• Horrors on a Vast Scale -- 06 Jan, 05
• Update: MH Work in Banda Aceh, Indonesia -- 05 Jan, 05
• MH Teams Arrive in Aceh to Help Tsunami Victims -- 05 Jan, 05
• MH Racing Against Time to Help Tsunami Victims -- 31 Dec, 04

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