The UN Secretary-General described the December 26, 2004 catastrophe as "the largest
natural disaster the Organization has had to respond to on behalf of the world community, in
the 66 years of our existence". Twelve countries in Asia and Africa were affected.The tsunamis flooded coastal areas, wiped away homes and buildings, roads and bridges,
water and electricity supplies, crops, irrigation and fishery infrastructure, productive assets
and small businesses. The disaster affected poor communities where people mainly lived off
the sea and marginal land, as well as destroying or badly damaging a number of towns. Their
livelihoods have been destroyed and they have been stripped of their meagre possessions.
