Initial estimates value the total number of fatalities around 230,000 (according to the U.S. Geological Survey) however these figures rise as high as 280,000. As aforementioned, the 2 key areas which experienced the most devastating effect of the Indian ocean tsunami was Sri Lanka, but more tellingly Indonesia, which recorded almost half of the casualties. The Aceh province in north-west Sumatra (Indonesia) was said to be the most severely affected in Sumatra and contained several of the 1500+ villages and 100+ schools destroyed in Sumatra. In many coastal settlements surrounding the Indian Ocean, fishing was a major occupation as well as a source of food. As a result these regions were densely populated and thus the most severely affected usually incurring the most damage and rising numbers of fatalities. As well as these humanitarian impacts the economic effects on fishing villages in Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and several other coastal countries were catastrophic to say the least. In Amphur Khao, Thailand, only 6 of 60 fishing boats remained intact, with the rest either being swept out to sea or damaged irrevocably. Similarly in Tamil Nadu in India, the surviving 10% of fishermen had lost both nets and boats needed to retain their livelihood, and as a result had to relocate to the city, leaving the ports economically. The long term effect of this resulted in a decline of the fishing industry, and as a result economic decline. The loss of people of all ages and from all occupations not only affected the fishing industry, but also compounded the economic effects on agriculture and industry. The rail link between Colombo and Galle was destroyed resulting in the deaths of 1500 people, and Farmland has been contaminated by salt water leaving large plantations untenable. These impacts in particular had a severe effect on the economy, and many fear that damage to farmland and infrastructure will be longer term and longer lasting.
Regarded as less important than economic and social effects, the damage to the environment was nevertheless extensive and serious. Primary effects included thousands of trees being uprooted by the sheer power of the tsunami wave trains, and severe damage to natural marine features such as coral reefs and mangrove swamps. It has been reported that in the Maldives, 16 to 17 coral reefs were overcome by the sea waves, and are totally without fresh water, and as a result have been rendered uninhabitable for decades. Secondary effects have included the contamination of drinking water (increasing the risk of spread of water-borne diseases) and agricultural land resulting in the decline in agriculture, and the need for the introduction of $7 billion US aid worldwide.
With modern systems of communication, the international response was swift and well executed, with media and government organisations raising awareness for the tsunami appeal as quick as possible. Short term responses included the provision of aid, both financial and physical. Highest contributors included the UK (£175 million), Australia ($810 million), Japan ($500 million), and the World Bank ($250 million). NGOs were also important in providing short term relief to affected countries. ‘Save the Children’ and ‘The Church World Service’ were instrumental, distributing tarpaulins, sheeting and tents to provide shelter, as well as water purification tablets, portable generators and food to devastated communities. Several task forces were deployed. Several task forces were established to provide assistance in various fields. For example, UNEP (United Nation Environmental Program) provided $1 million as an emergency fund in response to the environmental destruction caused by the tsunami, as well as deploying a task force to assess the extent of the damage. More significantly still Medical and Science teams from the UK and Australia have been helping psychologically and physically damaged people with trauma, and also have been assigned the task of reuniting families (infants), and identifying corpses. Collectively, these short term responses have provided the aid needed for many of the severely affected countries to regain stability and partial infrastructure. As a result these countries have rebuilt themselves allowing for governments to plan longer term responses.
The single long term response to the Indian ocean tsunami was the introduction of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) in January '05, which was set up to provide warning to the inhabitants of the nations bordering the Indian Ocean of approaching tsunamis. The system became active in late June 2006, and included 17 Seismic VSAT stations amounting to 25 seismographic stations in total. Although IOTWS will not prevent the occurrence of such a great natural disaster, it can provide assistance as an early warning system giving the bordering nations adequate time to co-ordinate a response and effectively mitigate the impact of a tsunami.
Other responses involving hard-engineering techniques have been constructed in MEDCs in order to be used as limiting or prevention measures. This has been seen commonly in Japan, where 4.5m seawalls have been constructed in order to protect coastal areas as well as the introduction of floodgates. These measures have been by and large unsuccessful, due to the volatile nature of tsunami. For example, the Hokkaido tsunami which struck Okushiri Island created waves as high as 30m tall leaving the sea barriers futile and ineffectual.
To conclude, the Indian Ocean Tsunami had many severe social, economic, and environmental effects, including 230,000 fatalities, as well as extensive destruction to atolls, farmland and infrastructure in turn leading to several long term economic drawbacks, the effects of which are still felt today. Responses to these catastrophic effects can be split in to long term and short term categories. With the majority of countries bordering the Indian ocean being LEDCs, the main constituent of responses fell in to the latter of the two catgories. These included evacuation, financial aid from foreign countries, and the deployment of various task forces. The most conclusive long term response was the introduction of IOTWS which provided an early warning system for these surrounding LEDCs. Overall, it is clear that the Indian Ocean Tsunami displayed characteristic effects and responses relative to the intensity of the quake and tsunami.