UN Envoy Clinton Urges World Donors to Focus on Tsunami Recovery

Former US President Bill Clinton said on Sunday 29 May that he is planning to ask donors to help in the full restoration of water and sanitation supplies to the tsunami-devastated Maldives. The announcement comes just 24 hours after he cancelled a tour of the area affected by the huge waves on Boxing Day 2004 in the Indian Ocean.

The United Nations (UN) recently named Clinton as its special envoy for tsunami recovery. Clinton met with the UN’s country team office, business leaders and civil society representatives. After these meetings he stated that his first priority was to "try and get commitments from donors to fill the gaps, particularly in water and sanitation."

He also commented that he would try his utmost to "restore tourism and diversify the economy."

The Maldives, in particular has been highlighted as an area of major concern. The country needs US$406 million for reconstruction works over the next three years. However, so far it has received just a proportion of this – US$79 million.

Clinton is concerned that donors may be ignoring the Maldives as the number of victims killed by the tsunami was much lower than in many other countries. Eighty-two people died in the devastation to the southern India country, while still twenty-six are missing and are presumed dead.

Tourism was once the main income for a large number of people on the island, but has been devastated since holiday-makers have since deserted the beaches there.

Clinton said, "A lot of people have not been convinced yet that the Maldives and some of the other places hit by the tsunami are open for business and perfectly safe."

On Saturday, Clinton called off a visit to Fonadhoo island, where the tsunami ripped through the seawall and destroyed the island’s settlements. He was scheduled to meet survivors who had found refuge in a neighbouring island.

Officials stated that the cancellation was due to bad weather due to the start of the monsoon season, but others have suggested that Clinton, who last September had a heart bypass, was exhausted.

A four-day trip to India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia has been undertaken by Clinton to ensure that aid is being fairly distributed – and the former US President has stated his commission to keep the world’s attention fixed on tsunami recovery.

The tsunami that hit on 26 December 2004 killed in excess of 176,000 people across eleven countries, and has left an additional 50,000 missing, and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.