Indian Ocean tsunami 20 years on: The destruction was “like a nuclear weapon” but communities have bounced back

20 years since the Indian Ocean tsunami – one of the worst natural disasters in history, which killed around 230,000 people in 14 countries and caused billions of dollars of damage – Islamic Relief has been speaking to survivors and aid workers about their experiences.

Survivors in Indonesia, where more than 130,000 people died, have compared the devastation to the impact of a nuclear bomb and many people are still scarred by the loss and trauma they experienced, but they highlighted how the spirit and resilience of local communities – together with international support – has remarkably helped the region recover.

Professor Ede Surya Darmawan, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Islamic Relief Indonesia and early responder to the disaster, recalls: “Banda Aceh looked like it had been hit by a nuclear weapon. All of the buildings were destroyed, even the trees had been pulled out of the earth by the water.”

In Banda Aceh the tsunami killed around a third of the people, made another third homeless, and destroyed 60% of buildings. One teacher told Islamic Relief that of the 300 pupils at his school only 18 survived. Most families lost their livelihoods as agricultural land was submerged and fishing boats destroyed. Today, many people still live in poverty, but overall poverty levels are lower than before the tsunami and metrics such as infrastructure and economy have rebounded to surpass pre-tsunami levels.

Dr Muslim Yakub, a tsunami survivor and now head of Aceh Social Department, with which Islamic Relief works, says, “Looking at the enormity of the disaster, we thought Aceh would take a long time to rise again. But, exceeding everyone’s expectations, Aceh quickly rose up. What made Aceh rise from its painful and very dark condition was the spirit of the Acehnese people to change and seek a better life… because the world helped Aceh, we did not feel alone.”

The tsunami, which hit on 26 December 2004, was caused by a 9.3 magnitude earthquake under the Indian Ocean, one of the most powerful ever recorded that released energy equivalent to 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. It sparked waves that reached up to 51 metres high and 500 miles per hour.

Budi Permana, a logistics assistant at Islamic Relief Indonesia in Aceh, lost his 13-month-old child in the water. He recalls the moment the waves struck:

“I thought it was the end of the world because everything was covered with water. My wife saw from a distance that the water was very, very high, and then I tried to lift my child and I went up to the second floor [of my house]… after that suddenly my house was surrounded by water and collapsed, and we were scattered…

“It was like I was being rolled by the waves, like in a washing machine. I was flipped with my head back, like a somersault, and sometimes I would touch the ground and sometimes I was thrown up. It was like being flipped up and down. In those moments, I saw so many things happening – small children who were lost, small children who entered the whirlpool… Why did I survive? I survived because I tried to hold onto a sofa that happened to pass by me. I immediately grabbed it, and I survived. The sofa stopped at a coconut tree, and I thought that if I didn’t grab the tree, I would be taken out to sea.”

The global aid response to the tsunami was unprecedented for a natural disaster, with around $6.25 billion in donations to the UN central relief fund which assisted 14 countries. Islamic Relief aid workers deployed to the response recall the smell of dead bodies striking them as soon as they stepped off the plane.

Haroon Kash, who was deployed from the UK to support Islamic Relief’s emergency response in Indonesia, recalls: “The smell of dead bodies lingered everywhere I went over the next 5 weeks.”        

In the first week following the disaster, Islamic Relief distributed food, tents and drinking water to survivors in the worst-affected countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.

Over the following months and years Islamic Relief helped people rebuild their livelihoods and constructed new infrastructure that is still in use today 2 decades later. In Aceh alone this included over 1,000 new homes, 27 health clinics, a hospital and 23 schools.

Marlina is director of a healthcare centre in Aceh that was built by Islamic Relief after the tsunami and is today staffed mostly by women. She recalls working to prevent the spread of diseases in the aftermath, but being particularly worried about the psychological impact:  

“The main health issue at that time was with mental health. The community was very depressed… they felt as if they hadn’t just experienced a tsunami, but the end of the world. They stopped caring about their own health. Even the healthcare workers were also traumatised.”

Gradually, Marlina says, people’s mental health began to recover as they moved out of their tents and into temporary, and later, permanent homes.

In Indonesia alone some 30,000 children were orphaned by the tsunami and Islamic Relief provided many orphaned children and their surviving relatives with long-term support for schooling and healthcare. Today many of them are now thriving as graduates, teachers, civil servants or running small businesses.

Nur was 10-year-old when the tsunami hit and killed her parents. The support from Islamic Relief’s orphan sponsorship programme helped her complete her education and open a tailoring workshop with her friend.

“Alhamdulillah, the support from Islamic Relief was very beneficial to me as I could complete my degree. I am proud. Although we couldn’t ask our parents for support, we can now stand on our own 2 feet with this business.”

Today 73% of Indonesia’s schools are still located in disaster-prone areas. At Islamic Relief-supported schools children learn what to do in case of emergencies and practice evacuation protocols, but there is still more that can be done.

Budi Permana says: “We must remember our past, the bad things in our past… We cannot forget because it’s our story. But we can make a distance from it. I also have a message for the government. We have to prepare for the next disaster, including through putting energy into logistics and spreading knowledge about disasters among the people.”

Notes

For more information, see https://islamic-relief.org/indonesia-tsunami/

The tsunami primarily affected several Asian countries but also impacted parts of Africa and the Middle East. The most severely affected countries were Indonesia (131,028 people killed), Sri Lanka (31,229), India (16,260) and Thailand (5,395), but many other countries also suffered damage and loss of life including Somalia (176 dead), the Maldives (82), Malaysia (75), Myanmar (61), Tanzania (10), the Seychelles (3), Bangladesh (2), South Africa (2), Kenya (1) and Yemen (1).

new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.