On December 26, 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 240,000 people in 14 countries across two continents. On the twentieth anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, we reflect on the lives lost, recognize the heroes who helped save lives, and remember the overwhelming response by the international community to support those affected by unfathomable disaster.
With only minutes to spare until the waves reached shore, civilians were unable to evacuate or seek protection in time. In Indonesia alone, over 160,000 people lost their lives. In the aftermath of the tsunami, the United States and our partners around the world have made significant strides to better detect when disaster is about to strike and ensure that critical warnings reach civilians in time to save lives. When the tsunami first made landfall in Indonesia, there were no effective operational early warning systems in place to notify civilians of the unfolding disaster. Much has changed since this tragic day two decades ago.
Now, in response to disasters such as the Indian Ocean tsunami, through the efforts of USAID and its partners, roughly half of the world is covered by tsunami and weather early warning systems. To mitigate the risk of future disasters, USAID and other government agencies continue to partner with Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure to strengthen their capacity and preparedness. Today, Indonesia has become a regional leader in disaster management, and now partners with other countries in need.
The United States contributed more than $400 million in aid, reaching nearly 600,000 Indonesian people. This tragedy also catalyzed enhanced civil-military Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief cooperation between the United States and partners such as Australia, Japan, and India, laying the groundwork for future collaboration in disaster response and resilience-building across the Indo-Pacific region.
As we remember the tragic human toll of this disaster, we also reflect on the remarkable coordination and response by the international community which continues to work together to mitigate the impacts of disasters in the future and ensure that communities can receive ample warning to protect themselves. We are grateful for the persistent work of our partners and other donors to save lives and prevent and mitigate the impact of disasters across the world.
