Locations20th Anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami: UNDP, Government of Japan and Ministry of Interior strengthen tsunami preparedness and response in local and national policies
January 9, 2025
Phang Nga, 26 December 2024 – Phang Nga, 26 December 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, ASEAN, and the European Union, commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on December 26–27, 2024, in Phang Nga province, Thailand. The event honors those who lost their lives in the 2004 Tsunami, one of the most devastating natural calamities in the Asia-Pacific region, while bringing together stakeholders from government, the private sector, experts, practitioners, and communities. Discussions focus on promoting disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response across five key areas: public health and emergency response, early warning systems, research and innovation, inclusive disaster preparedness and response, and disaster-resilient cities, emphasizing the need for resilience and collaboration to protect vulnerable communities.
The activities include the 20th Anniversary Tsunami Commemorative Walk-Run in Ban Nam Khem village, located in Bang Muang subdistrict, Takua Pa district, Phang Nga province, along the Tsunami Memorial Tourism Route. Over 200 participants will take part in the event, which honors the memory of those who lost their lives in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and raises awareness about tsunami resilience.
As part of the commemorative activities, UNDP and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (ThaiPBS), with support from the Government of Japan, host a breakout session on “Empowering Inclusive Resilience: Transforming Lessons from Tsunami Preparedness to Disaster Risk Reduction to Ensure No One is Left Behind." This session features a panel of speakers from communities and various sectors, including Soranat Luesopon, Director of the Disaster Prevention Promotion Division; Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor of Bangkok; Pannarai Charungkarn, Director of Koh Mai Pai School in Phang Nga province; Puntarika Kuasakul, Secretary of the Association of Physically Handicapped of Phuket; and Tawan Saion, a youth volunteer from the Baan Nam Kem Community in Phang Nga province. They share lessons and practices for disability-inclusive tsunami preparedness and school safety, focusing on community empowerment and a bottom-up approach to building a disaster-resilient nation. The dialogue also explores how these lessons can be applied to other types of disasters.
Since 2017, UNDP, through the regional Tsunami Project on Partnerships for Strengthening School Tsunami Preparedness in the Asia-Pacific Region, funded by the Government of Japan, has supported school safety efforts in tsunami-prone areas in Thailand, in collaboration with the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), and the Thai Red Cross Society. The project developed tsunami evacuation plans, tested them in 209 coastal schools, and conducted drills with 7,593 students and 471 school staff. The plans include communication protocols for seven types of persons with disabilities, ensuring no one is left behind during emergencies. These plans now serve as National Guidelines for Tsunami Evacuation, adopted by 27,000 schools in Thailand. At the regional level, UNDP and the Government of Japan have supported over 700 schools in 24 Asia-Pacific countries to conduct tsunami drills and education programmes, engaging over 218,800 students, teachers, local officials, and community members.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004, took over 230,000 lives across 14 countries, including 5,395 in Thailand. This catastrophic event remains one of the most devastating disasters in history. Currently, 700 million people worldwide are at risk from tsunamis.
Otaka Masato, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, said:
“Japan also faced a tsunami in 2011. In that situation, there was one school that successfully evacuated all of its students, which we call ‘the miracle of Kamaishi.’ This success was not simply because they followed instructions but because they were able to adapt their actions to the real situation on their own, based on their awareness of how to respond immediately after the earthquake, with each student taking the initiative to evacuate to higher and safer ground. I believe this is the kind of lesson we can share with Thailand, and it reflects exactly what we have been doing with UNDP over the past several years.
We focus on school safety because schools are where most young people, who still need guidance during emergencies, spend their time. Moreover, schools are vital to community development, and we cannot afford to lose the younger generation to devastating natural disasters.”
Otaka Masato, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand and Niamh Collier-Smith, UNDP Resident Representative to Thailand
Niamh Collier-Smith, UNDP Resident Representative to Thailand, said: “In the wake of the tsunami, the world demonstrated remarkable solidarity, responding swiftly to support affected countries. A total of USD 13.5 billion was raised, with approximately 40 percent contributed by individuals, trusts, and private sector donations. It was one of the most rapid responses in the history of disaster relief. With significant support from the Government of Japan, UNDP, through its Country Offices in the five most affected countries—Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and India—responded promptly to the immediate needs of governments and communities, saving lives and minimizing losses and damages. UNDP committed not only to supporting immediate recovery but also to building a foundation for long-term resilience.
UNDP, through the regional Tsunami Project, has enhanced community resilience and awareness through activities such as conducting tsunami evacuation drills, updating school emergency plans, and integrating these plans into national disaster management frameworks. We are now broadening our efforts by helping countries to integrate tsunami preparedness into national policies and school curricula, in order to ensure that all schools and communities are empowered to reduce their risks and enhance their safety in the event of a tsunami.”
Media Contact Information:
Sooin Bang, Urban Risk Resilience Consultant, UNDP | sooin.bang@undp.org
Karnklon Raktham, Head of Communications, UNDP in Thailand | karnklon.raktham@undp.org
Aticha Chaivichian, Partnership and Engagement Analyst, UNDP in Thailand | aticha.chaivichian@undp.org
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About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.
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