The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: what have we learned?

The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004 remains one of the most devastating disasters triggered by natural hazards this century. Across the region, many affected communities have emerged stronger and better prepared for future shocks and hazards, after this tragic disaster claimed over 230,000 lives and displaced millions of people across 14 countries.

On 18 February, IFRC Chief of Staff and Under-Secretary General for People and Strategy, Christopher Rassi, joined a discussion organised by the European Commission Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and the European Parliament Committee on Development (DEVE) to commemorate this unprecedented disaster and reflect on the lessons learnt over the last two decades.

The Indian Ocean Tsunami shook the international humanitarian system, triggering far-reaching emergency management policy developments that have transformed humanitarian aid and civil protection globally. Twenty years on, the Red Cross Red Crescent network continues to prioritise long-term sustainability, risk reduction, and inclusive community resilience.

Local actors play a crucial role in emergency response, ensuring life-saving early action, community access, and efficient use of resources. Around 22,000 local Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers mobilised during the tsunami response.

The importance of preparedness and early warning

MEP Wouter Beke opened the event, emphasising that while Asia may seem far, we face similar risks in Europe. He stressed the importance of collaboration on disaster risk reduction and preparedness to lessen the impact of future climate induced risks.

Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, reflected on the immense scale of the disaster, which introduced the word "tsunami" into global vocabulary. Commissioner Lahbib highlighted the inspiring wave of global solidarity that followed, with the EU contributing EUR 123 million in humanitarian funding and civil protection assistance. “No country, no matter how strong, can deal with an unprecedented disaster like this alone,” she said. She also stressed the need to consult communities on relief and recovery efforts, including early warning systems, to make sure they are relevant and effective.

Chair of the DEVE Committee, MEP Barry Andrews, underlined the challenges faced by the EU in maintaining development cooperation funding amidst budget constraints and geopolitical shifts. He stressed the need to advocate for the protection and potential increase of EU development funding in the next long-term EU budget, including actions to enhance the resilience of the people and communities experiencing heightened vulnerability.

Lessons learnt

The tsunami response provided valuable lessons that can help us in facing these types of hazards today and in the future.  “The lessons that have reshaped the IFRC programming in the past 20 years — integrating risk reduction, ensuring accountability, and building stronger systems — continue to guide our approach to how we anticipate, prepare for, respond and ensure resilient recovery,” stressed Mr Rassi.

Early warning saves lives by enabling individuals, communities, governments, businesses, and others to take timely action to reduce disaster risks in advance of hazardous events. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, reminded attendees that early warning systems are not a one-time investment but need to be maintained and upgraded. He emphasized that early warning alone is not enough; more investment in infrastructure is necessary. Risk reduction must be considered in every Euro spend on development. 

The Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Belgium, H.E Jaime Victor B. Ledda, emphasised Southeast Asia's vulnerability to disasters and the region's prioritisation of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and response. The tsunami served as a catalyst for formalising regional cooperation on DRR, underlining the importance of risk monitoring and assessment in an increasingly complex risk landscape.

The key role of local actors

Speakers all stressed the need for continuous learning and investment in sustainable, locally driven initiatives. Managing disaster risks is a collective effort across sectors, and local actors play a pivotal role. The importance of solidarity and collective action was a recurring theme, with private citizens around the world contributing a significant portion of the response and recovery funding.

The event served as a poignant reminder of the tsunami’s impact and the progress made in disaster preparedness and response in recent years. As disasters linked to natural hazards become more frequent, the lessons learned from the tsunami continue to guide global efforts in disaster risk reduction and resilience-building.