18 December 2009

A new multimedia web documentary, produced by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Thomson Reuters Foundation, marks the fifth anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami.

Surviving the Tsunami: Stories of Hope combines powerful imagery by award-winning Reuters photojournalists with eyewitness testimony from four people whose lives were dramatically changed by the tsunami.

The documentary reveals the strength of the human spirit in the face of the worst natural disaster in living memory. These are stories of compassion, hope and dignity.

Unprecedented damage

Yasemin Aysan, under secretary general of the Federation, said: "The tsunami caused catastrophic and unprecedented damage but also generated incredible levels of spontaneous generosity from ordinary people around the world.

"We have spent the past five years helping communities to recover and we wanted to produce a true testimony that allows ordinary people affected by the tsunami to tell their extraordinary stories."

Monique Villa, chief executive of Thomson Reuters Foundation, said: "This is a hugely inspirational and moving documentary that reveals the amazing capacity for human beings to overcome immense tragedy. It draws on the unique experiences of Reuters journalists in one of the most harrowing natural disasters of our time and is a celebration of humanity's spirit and tenacity in the face of adversity."

Tsunami challenge

Last week, also to mark the Boxing Day tsunami, the British Red Cross launched a new interactive online challenge.
 
Drawing on the real-life challenges faced by the organisation in the aftermath of the disaster, the Decisions for Recovery game asks the player to make a series of choices about how recovery will be carried out.

The challenge, which includes short videos, is a chance for people to gain a deeper understanding of what has been achieved over the past five years.

Play Decisions for Recovery