Nearly four years after the Indian Ocean tsunami, 97 per cent of houses planned for tsunami-affected people are finished or under construction.

According to the International Federation's Tsunami Four-Year Progress Report - which accounts for the collective efforts of 40 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies - by the end of September 2008, 41,215 permanent houses had been built and a further 12,722 were being built. Of 383 planned hospitals and clinics, 279 were completed, with work in progress on a further 96.

Zainal Abidin, an Acehnese fisherman said he preferred a traditional-style wooden frame house to replace his destroyed home. "I chose this house because I am afraid of another earthquake and tsunami. I am happier in this house, and it's cooler too," he said.

Jerry Talbot, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society's special representative for tsunami recovery, said: "The Red Cross Red Crescent construction programme recognizes that building a group of houses does not build a community. That is why, from the outset, we have linked houses with the water and sanitation, health services, roads, income sources and other factors necessary for the community to thrive."

So far, 4.1 million people have received assistance from the Red Cross Red Crescent's 3.1 billion Swiss franc (US$ 2.6 billion, EUR 2 billion) programme. This includes people benefiting from safe drinking water (546,500 people) and health services (374,800 people).

Across tsunami-affected countries, the Red Cross Red Crescent supports communities to rebuild their own lives and develop so they can cope with future risks including natural disasters, the effects of climate change, outbreaks of disease, conflict or the rapid rise in the cost of food and fuel.

"As the Red Cross Red Crescent hands over projects, the emphasis is already shifting from a recovery operation to long-term development backed by strengthened capacity in local Red Cross and Red Crescent societies," said Mr Talbot.

Almost all major construction programmes are due to be completed by the end of 2009, when about 90 per cent of funding will have been spent.

The Tsunami Four-Year Progress Report is available at www.ifrc.org/tsunami

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Paul Conneally, Head of Media and External Communications Unit, Geneva: Tel: + 41 79 308 98 09 Anthony Mwangi, communications officer in Geneva: Tel: + 41 79 245 7525 Patrick Fuller, communications coordinator in Sri Lanka: Tel: + 94 773 502 154 Media Service Duty phone (Geneva): Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81

he Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.