NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history, with the California Institute of Technology, in a university release summarizing the findings about the catastrophe, suggesting that scientists needed to rethink previous notions about where massive quakes were likely to happen.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, more commonly known as UNESCO, said it has invested in seabed mapping and other technologies as part of its commitment to advance tsunami science and readiness. "The 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami is an opportunity to call on States to continue efforts in supporting and funding for tsunami preparedness and education," the organization said.
According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the event was a wakeup call, reshaping the global community's collective approach to disaster preparedness and prompting major advances in tsunami early-warning systems throughout the world. Additionally, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps began to focus on making humanitarian assistance and disaster relief part of their core capabilities.
Meanwhile, the disaster had profound sociological consequences, immediate and long-term. Forces mobilized in the aftermath of the tsunami to offer haven to orphaned children and protect them from human trafficking. UNICEF and other organizations worked to address the mental health of traumatized children and get them back into school and a sense of stability, USA Today reported Thursday. ■
