In Thailand, Buddhist monks chant a prayer
for those who died in the tsunami.
In Indonesia's Aceh Province, officials sound a new tsunami-warning
siren as part of the memorial ceremonies for the more than 169,000 who
died there.
In the Sri Lankan town of Galle, people pause as a clock tower counts
down the moments before 9:26 a.m., the exact time a year ago the tsunami
struck the country.
Mourners gathered also in India, Malaysia and even in Sweden, which
lost more than 500 citizens in the tsunami. They were among the thousands
of Europeans who were visiting the region's warm beaches for the Christmas
holidays when the tsunami struck. More than 2,500 tourists from around the
world were among those lost.
The massive earthquake and the tsunami it triggered on December 26 last
year swept across the Indian Ocean, and wiped out more than a quarter
million lives. Entire communities were swept away. In what was in many
ways a global tragedy, hundreds-of-thousands of people were left homeless,
jobless, without schools or hospitals.
And around the globe, people rose to help the devastated communities.
More than $13.5 billion were raised to rebuild the region. Volunteer aid
workers and military missions from many countries took up the task of
bringing food, water, medicine and shelter to the victims.
Leaders from around the world joined in the memorial observances
Monday. In a recorded message to the people of Aceh, Kofi Annan, the
secretary-general of the United Nations, said that, despite the record
outpouring of aid and a massive rebuilding effort, the suffering continues
for many.
"Yet in some ways, the most challenging days lie ahead," he said.
"Bread-winners desperately need to regain secure livelihoods.
Hundreds-of-thousands of families need to re-establish themselves in
permanent homes, and communities need to rebuild."
In his video
message to Aceh, President Bush praised the strength and resilience of the
survivors who are rebuilding their lives and communities.
"One year after the tsunami, Americans of all faiths join nations
around the world in the spirit of unity, remembrance and resolve. May
Almighty God comfort all those affected by the tsunami, and give them
strength," said Mr. Bush.
Among the many tasks that remain for those involved in the
reconstruction is finding ways to prevent another such tragedy. Indian
Ocean nations are trying to develop a regional system to warn of possible
tsunamis. And Mr. Annan says that the United Nations is working to learn
from the tsunami, to find ways to speed aid around the world the next time
disaster strikes. |