In the days immediately following the December 26, 2004 tsunami and earthquake, swift action by the U.S. government, in cooperation with other donors and private organizations, ensured critical needs for water and sanitation were met, thus preventing a secondary disaster-related health crisis from occurring.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other U.S. government agencies launched a comprehensive reconstruction program with $656 million provided by Congress in May 2005 and signed into law by President Bush for the Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction Fund (including $25 million for efforts to combat the spread of avian influenza). When added to the funds spent by the Department of Defense on emergency recovery assistance and relief aid, as well as food aid provided by USDA, U.S. government assistance totals $841 million.

In addition to the U.S. government response, the American people responded in great numbers. According to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, the total for U.S. private tsunami donations, including both cash and in-kind donations, is more than $1.8 billion.

Today, the U.S. government’s reconstruction efforts include supporting programs that are identified by the affected communities themselves: rebuilding roads; helping individuals return to their original livelihoods; training (particularly women) to develop new skills; strengthening the community governance and political infrastructure; and supporting host government-led early warning/disaster preparedness efforts.

(Source: The U.S. Agency for International Development Factsheet)

For information about how you can help

Please contact the Center for Disaster Information (CIDI) (http://www.cidi.org/ or Disaster Assistance Registration Database); or visit the USAID or USA Freedom Corps websites.

Also see U.S. Embassy websites in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.  For additional information, visit the embassy websites of India, Indonesia, and Thailand. 

U.S. Government Officials Visits to the Region

USAID Administrator Natsios traveled to Banda Aceh, December 17-18, 2005.

Secretary Rice's travel to Thailand on July 11, 2005.

Then-Secretary Powell's travel with Florida Governor Jeb Bush and USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios to the areas affected by the tsunami.

Deputy Secretary Zoellick travel to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines May 2-11, 2005.

Photo Galleries

12/18/05: USAID Administrator Natsios Visit to Banda Aceh

05/05/05: Bush-Clinton Houston Tsunami Fund

01/04/05: Secretary Powell and Governor Bush in South Asia

01/03/05: Tsunami Relief Assistance

Related Tsunami Relief Information

Gifts in Kind International

Disaster Assistance Registration Database of the Center for Disaster Information

InterAction, an alliance of U.S. NGO's 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Agency for International Development

U.S. Department of Defense 

U.S. Pacific Command

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

United Nations: "Tsunami in South Asia"

FirstGov: "Asia Earthquake and Tsunamis"

Remarks, Factsheets and Other releases

12/21/05:  Tsunami Assistance, One Year Later

07/11/05:  Tsunami Reconstruction Program at Bang Sak School

06/27/05:  Sri Lanka - Signing of Joint Mechanism on Tsunami Aid Distribution

06/23/05:  Fact Sheet: Tsunami Reconstruction Plan

06/23/05:  U.S. Assistance and Reconstruction Efforts Six Months After South Asian Tsunami

05/13/05:  Ambassador Lundstead on Signing of Supplemental Spending Measure and Tsunami Relief

05/09/05:  Deputy Secretary Zoellick at U.S. Ambassador's Residence, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

05/08/05:  Deputy Secretary Zoellick's Interview with Reuters and Associated Press in Banda Aceh

05/08/05:  Deputy Secretary Zoellick at MoU Road Signing Ceremony, Banda Aceh, Indonesia

05/07/05:  Deputy Secretary Zoellick's press roundtable in Indonesia

05/07/05:  Deputy Secretary Zoellick's press conference in Indonesia

05/07/05:  Deputy Secretary Zoellick's interview on CNN International

04/19/05: Assistant Secretary Rocca's Remarks at the American Centerin Sri Lanka

04/11/05: United States Leads the World in Development Assistance

02/10/05: Under Secretary Larson testifies on the Response of the U.S. Government and the International System To the

Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunamis

02/10/05: USAID Administrator Natsios testifies on U.S. Strategies for Relief and Reconstruction Assistance in Response to the Tsunami

01/26/05  Under Secretary Larson testifies On the U.S. Government's Relief-to-Reconstruction Strategy 

01/13/05: Under Secretary Larson Briefs on How the U.S. is Helping the Poor: From Tsunami Debt and Disaster Relief to Promoting Development Through Growth

01/11/05  Public Service Announcements for the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Relief Fund 

01/10/05  President Briefed on U.S. Assistance for Tsunami-Affected Regions

01/10/05  President Bush Thanks USAID Employees and NGO Presidents

01/10/05  USAID Administrator Natsios Briefs on U.S. Relief Efforts for Tsunami-Affected Countries 

01/07/05: Secretary Powell's Interview With CNN's John King in Galle, Sri Lanka

01/07/05: Secretary Powell's Remarks to the Press in Colombo, Sri Lanka

01/06/05: Remarks by Secretary Powell to the Traveling Press in Indonesia

01/06/05: Secretary Powell's Interview on Indonesia's SCTV

01/06/05: Secretary Powell at the ASEAN Leaders' Special Meeting on Tsunami Relief

01/06/05: Remarks by Spokesman Boucher to the Traveling Press in Indonesia

01/06/05: Assistant Secretary Harty's Interview on Fox and Friends

01/06/05: Assistant Secretary Harty's Interview on CNN's American Morning

01/05/05: Statement Regarding Adoption of Tsunami Orphans

01/05/05: Secretary Powell's Interview on NBC's Nightly News

01/05/05: Secretary Powell With Governor Bush And Indonesian Minister Alwi

01/04/05: Remarks With Governor Bush and Indonesian Foreign Minister Wirajuda

01/04/05: Secretary Powell at the City Hall Disaster Relief Center

01/04/05: Secretary Powell With Governor Bush and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai of Thailand

01/04/05: Secretary Powell's Interview on ABC's Good Morning America

01/04/05: Secretary Powell's Interview on Thailand's Independent Television (ITV)

01/04/05: Assistant Secretary Harty's Interview on MSNBC's Countdown

01/04/05: Assistant Secretary Harty's Interview on PBS News Hour

01/03/05: Secretary Powell and Governor Bush's Remarks En Route To Bangkok

01/03/05: Briefing on the U.S. Government Relief Efforts in Asia

01/03/05: Remarks by the President After Signing A Book of Condolence at the Indonesian Embassy

01/02/05  Secretary Powell's Interview With CN's Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer

01/02/05: Secretary Powell's Interview on CBS's Face the Nation With Bob Schieffer and Doyle McManus

01/02/05: Remarks by Secretary Powell After His Interview With CBS's Face the Nation

01/02/05: Remarks by Secretary Powell After His Interview With NBC's Meet the Press

12/31/04: President Bush Commits $350 Million for Tsunami Relief Efforts

12/3/004: Assistant Secretary Harty's Interview on CNN News

12/29/04: Coordination of Relief Assistance for Victims of the Recent Tsunamis