Evaluating Tsunami Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation

The Indian Ocean tsunami that hit the coastal regions of Sri Lanka on the morning of 26th December 2004 left 31,000 people dead, 5,600 missing, over 15,000 injured and 500,000 internally displaced.

Like most natural disasters, the tsunami was unexpected and caused sudden and extensive damage. The outpouring from the rest of the world was both heartfelt and immense, with many diverse groups, non-governmental organisations, government institutions, philanthropists as groups or as individuals, governments, religious institutions and so on contributing towards the relief efforts.

Many organisations were flooded with fund from donors. A continuous narrative and photographic assessment of the original situation and the progress at every stage of development has been found to help in accounting for funds received. The monitoring and evaluation of any project is based on an available database which allows us to assess the impact and outcomes of the project undertaken. In the case of natural disaster such as a tsunami the situation differs as immediate action is needed to provide immediate relief. The tsunami involves two main areas; immediate relief and reconstruction and rehabilitation also known as the rapid reaction phase.