10/01/2005 - Humanitarian
and medical aid organised by Medecins Sans
Frontieres is being loaded onto the Greenpeace
flagship, Rainbow Warrior.
Indian Ocean Region, International — On
December 26 a massive tsunami swept through
the Indian Ocean region to become arguably
the largest natural disaster in living memory.
Questions are now being asked: what are
the environmental impacts of this tragedy?
Did damaged environments contribute to the
extent of the impact? And perhaps most importantly,
what can be done to make sure that the long-term
welfare of survivors is considered?
Our flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, is currently
assisting the French organisation Médecins
Sans Frontières (MSF) in delivering
emergency relief aid. Greenpeace activists
have been involved in the relief effort
in India, Indonesia, Thailand and elsewhere
since December 26. Although we are not an
aid organisation, we felt this was the best
way we could contribute most effectively.
The Rainbow Warrior was already in the region
and access to many of the most remote and
isolated areas is only possible by ship.
Environmental impacts
Now, we are also beginning to explore the
possibilities of contributing to assessments
of the environmental impacts caused by the
tsunami.
Initial reports indicate that natural ecological
systems such as coral reefs, mangroves and
wetlands have suffered extensive impacts.
Important research facilities for studying
and monitoring these environments are reportedly
also severely damaged.
This tsunami has highlighted the vulnerability
of the sensitive marine environments, such
as mangroves, that are the breeding grounds
for many marine species and that represent
the livelihood of thousands of communities
that depend on them for their survival.
The United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP) is undertaking a full environmental
impact assessment of this natural disaster,
and this, in conjunction with the various
other initiatives underway, should lead
to a good understanding of the scale and
extent of the damage.
Redeveloping for the future
It seems that healthy mangroves and coral
reefs formed an essential defence against
the tsunami. Damage appears to be much worse
in areas where these natural defences were
destroyed or degraded by shrimp farming
and irresponsible coastal development for
industry and tourism. Any recovery effort
should ensure the conservation and restoration
of these vital coastal ecosystems.
From the point of view of the protection
of human life in such an extreme event,
but also considering the resilience of ecological
systems, it is essential that redevelopment
proceeds with this in mind.
Of course right now we must give our efforts
to those who have suffered in this tragedy.
We have and will continue to offer support
to MSF during the relief effort.
But as the most urgent needs are met, and
the focus falls more clearly upon redevelopment
and reconstruction, then we will contribute
to recovery efforts to ensure that the approach
to reconstruction addresses both short and
longer term social and environmental needs.
