On December 26, 2004 a magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean just off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake generated the single deadliest tsunamis in recorded history. The tsunami created waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) in height, devastating the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India, Thailand, the Maldives, Myanmar, Malaysia, and others. Current estimates have placed the death toll between 228,000 to 310,000. Two months after the tsunami, as many as 500 bodies a day were still being found in Indonesia. The earthquake and tsunami has also left over a million people homeless and caused unprecedented economic damage to the region.

The death toll is expected to grow as relief agencies warn of additional deaths due to poor sanitation and starvation in many disaster affected zone. The World Health Organization has also warned that the number of deaths from preventable diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, dysentery and typhoid could rival the death toll from the disaster itself. These diseases are largely spread by the bodily wastes of the living after the loss of normal sanitary facilities, the shared use of inadequate facilities in makeshift refuges, and the lack of clean water.

A great deal of humanitarian aid is needed due to widespread damage of the infrastructure, shortages of food and water, and economic damage. Nations all over the world have provided over $3 billion (USD) in aid for damaged regions. Private humanitarian organizations have also substantially contributed to relief efforts.

Experts warn that aftershocks may cause additional devastation in the following months. An earthquake of magnitude 8.7 was reported near Sumatra on March 28, 2005. On the Indonesian island of Nias, as many as 2,000 people are feared to have died.

Indonesia. Indonesia was the most seriously impacted country, with nearly all the casualties and damage taking place within the province of Aceh. As of January 2005, Indonesia's Ministry of Health has estimated the number of people dead at over 220,000 and the count is expected to rise as government officials have not yet carried out detailed assessments in many outlying areas. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that up to 100,000 are missing and the UN estimates that the tsunami has left 655,000 people homeless. Although Indonesia was the first and worst hit of countries in the region, it is the last to begin receiving relief aid. Bureaucratic red tape and the lack of infrastructure, accessible roads, and a shortage of available helicopters, has made it difficult to distribute much needed food, water, and supplies. Most aid is slowly trickling into the remote regions of Aceh by boat and air.

India. Official estimates in India place the number of people killed by the earthquake and tsunami at over 10,000 and hundreds of thousands were rendered homeless. The most hard hit regions are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Pondicherry, and Tamil Nadu.

Sri Lanka. In early January, Sri Lanka authorities reported over 30,000 confirmed deaths - many children and the elderly. The death toll continues to rise due to the spread of infectious diseases such as cholera and measles. The south and east coasts were worst hit. The hardest hit areas include Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Amparai, Mullaitivu and Vadamaradchi East.

Thailand. In January 2005, the Thai government reported over 5,000 deaths, 8,457 injuries and 4,499 missing. As of March 2005, Thai authorities estimate 8,000 are likely to have died. The popular tourist resorts of Phuket and Khao Lak were among the most badly hit areas. The economic impact on Thailand is expected to be substantial and long lasting as many foreign tourists are hesitant about traveling to Thailand. Furthermore, the fishing industry is also expected to be severely impacted in the following months as the public is averse to eating locally caught fish, for fear that the fish have fed on human dead bodies which were swept out to sea by the tsunami.