The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, one of the deadliest natural disasters in history, devastated millions across 14 countries. Among the hardest-hit nations were Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, where CARE colleagues and the women we worked with share their reflections on the day that forever changed their lives.
Voices of Tsunami survivors
Sopha Koh Klang, Krabi, Thailand
We had never heard of the ‘giant wave’ or tsunami until that day. Even now, I think of it with fear.
"The loss was immense—something we had never experienced before. It hit the coastal areas so hard that the fear still stays with us. Words like ‘aftershock’ were new to us then. Living on an island, we had to evacuate several times due to aftershock warnings."
Mrs. Vasthiampillai Jeyarani, Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka
"When the sea initially receded, we believed it was drying up, unaware of the impending disaster. My father-in-law saved me and her son by clinging to a palmyra tree but tragically lost his life to the powerful waves."
Kanit Sukdaeng, Krabi, Thailand
"Before the tsunami, we didn’t even know the word. Not until it happened. What we learned is that in the past, we thought we had to run immediately. Living on an island, everyone rushed to get on a boat. Many people were hurt scrambling to board, and it was more dangerous than the tsunami itself.
Today, we’re more aware of how to prepare. We know the safe locations on the island, so we don’t all have to rush to the boats anymore."
Memories of the Tsunami from CARE colleagues
Renee Picasso Manoppo, Humanitarian and Emergency Response Manager, Yayasan CARE Pedul (CARE Indonesia)
"I arrived in Aceh in mid-January 2005, and the scale of devastation was unimaginable. Entire buildings were flattened, fields replaced what used to be homes, and bodies were everywhere. It felt like even the hope for life was gone.
"Visiting evacuation tents was heartbreaking. Families lost loved ones, their belongings, and their will to live.
As humanitarian workers, we had never faced anything like this before—it was mentally and emotionally draining."
Prasarn Sathansathit, Project Manager, Raks Thai Foundation (CARE Thailand)
"The devastation was staggering, with entire communities left in ruins. Our team focused on three provinces where we already had project bases—Krabi, Phang Nga, and Ranong. Since Phang Nga was the hardest hit, I chose to go there, establishing our base at Wat Samakkhitham Temple, a site we had previously worked with on AIDS prevention projects.
"During this time, we initiated discussions with the abbot of Wat Samakkhitham Temple about using the temple grounds to provide temporary shelters for displaced families. This included support for the Moken, an indigenous group, as well as migrant workers from neighbouring countries, all of whom had been severely affected by the disaster."
Awalia Murtiana, Program Manager, Yayasan CARE Pedul (CARE Indonesia)
"I was in Aceh in 2006, one and a half years after the tsunami hit, as part of the Tsunami Emergency Unit. It was during the recovery phase. I was shocked to see the devastation—ships resting on top of houses and massive vessels stranded in the middle of the city. It was unimaginable how terrible the disaster must have been when it struck.
"During my time there, I frequently experienced earthquakes at unexpected times—during lunch, while sleeping, or during meetings. Although they didn’t last long, many residents were still deeply traumatized whenever the ground shook."
Pavaledran Jegatheepan, currently a project manager, Chrysalis (CARE Sri Lanka)
"I was deeply involved in relief efforts as a member of the CARE team. Reflecting on those times, I recall the immense suffering of the affected communities in Mullaitivu, where families were left shattered—losing loved ones, homes, and possessions—and forced to rebuild their lives from scratch.
Even 20 years later, the memories of that tragedy remain vividly etched in the hearts of those who experienced it."
20 years on from the Tsunami
As we mark 20 years since the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, we reflect on a tragedy that changed the global humanitarian landscape. The 2004 tsunami was a turning point not just for CARE, but for the entire humanitarian community. It taught us the importance of coordination and the resilience of the human spirit. Today, we face increasingly frequent and complex crises, worsened by climate change, which disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable, especially women and girls.
At CARE, we have learned that addressing humanitarian crises is about much more than immediate relief. We work with communities to support with recovery, building resilience, and proactively preparing for future shocks.
In crisis situations, women are often the first to pick up the pieces, and to provide for their community. We ask women what the priorities are for their communities, and work with them to deliver what's needed most - whether that's community-led early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and livelihood protection.
