When disaster devastates a large area:
Indian Ocean tsunami

Type of activity: Questions that may be used for group discussion, as an individual worksheet, or as the basis for writing assignments.

Grade level: Middle school and high school

Setting: Can be adapted for use in public schools, Christian schools, other private schools, homeschools, and other groups

Procedure: Ask the following questions

1.  What disaster happened in the Indian Ocean area in December 2004?

2.  What caused the tsunami?

On December 26, 2004, a 9.0 earthquake caused a massive tsunami.

3.  How many countries were affected?

1.8 million people were left homeless in 13 countries.

4.  How high were the waves that destroyed whole villages?

In Sri Lanka the wave was 30 feet high; In Indonesia the wave was 75-90 feet high.

5.  How many people died in the disaster?

In just 7 hours 230,000 people were killed.

6.  How were the survivors’ lives affected?

7.  What is REAL. LIFE. like for children who live through natural disasters?

Children who live through disasters suffer deep trauma. Our volunteer trauma specialists worked with children just days after the tsunami hit. They had the children draw pictures of their experience, then with the help of a translator talk about the picture with the trauma counselor. Read what one of the children said about her picture and then what the trauma counselor said about the drawing:
 
“I saw the sea, and people in the waves. I wish I could close my eyes forever.”  
—Khairioti, age 11, Indonesia

Khairioti survived because her parents grabbed her and ran to the hills right after the earthquake and before the tsunami. She has no face or eyes in the drawing because she does not want to see what is happening. The sun is tiny and crying. Her home was washed away by the water, as were her cousins and extended family members. The person in the water is her best friend. Khairioti used almost no color, which reflects her mood as she is drawing.

8.  If you could say something to Khairioti, what would you say?

9.  How long will the recovery from the tsunami disaster take?

10.  How is Medical Teams International helping the people in Sri Lanka and Indonesia?

Long after the media have moved on, Medical Teams International is still offering assistance in the poorer areas of Indonesia and Sri Lanka. During the relief phase of disaster response, our medical teams not only provided the only medical care that many people had but also trained health care workers to replace those who had died. We also sent trauma specialists to work with the children and train others to detect and respond to traumatic stress. During the recovery phase of disaster response, we have sent (1) teams to help local staff provide medical training and (2) medicines and supplies to help clinic and hospitals recover from the devastation. We are also engaged in several development efforts, including introducing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the country of Sri Lanka.

11.  What would it be like to lose everything you owned, including possibly some family members?

I’m only one person, but I can make a difference

Like the ripples in a pond, I can make a difference that will touch people around the world.

Learn more about how you can make a difference

Think about it

1.  How can you make a difference by giving, acting, praying, or volunteering?

2.  If you had $100, how would you use it to help people?

3.  You can pray for people affected by disaster.