International Recovery Platform

This project aims to fill a major gap in international knowledge through the careful analysis of recovery operations following a diverse range of natural disasters that have occurred during the past twenty years. The intention is to learn vital lessons by

This report is the product of close cooperation between UNEP and national environmental authorities and experts. It provides a preliminary ground-level look at the tsunami’s impact on various sectors of the region’s environment. It highlights problems in need of immediate attention, underscoring the strong link between environment and sustainable livelihood and the need for improved early warning and disaster preparedness systems.

This report has been prepared in response to General Assembly Resolution 60/15 of 2 February 2006 on “Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster”. The report provides a status update of the recovery process at the 18-month mark and seeks to identify some of the key emerging challenges and lessons learned in efforts to build back better. It examines successes and challenges in tsunami response, focusing on long-term recovery.