Did you know that this month marks the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami?

On 26 December 2004, a powerful magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, claiming the lives of more than 230,000 people. Geoscientists without Borders came at the heels in response to this devastating tragedy and made one of its earliest grants for tsunami disaster prevention and awareness in Sumatra, Indonesia.

To date, GWB projects have impacted over 18 million people worldwide, using applied geosciences to save lives through the implementation of early warning systems in areas at risk of volcanoes, tsunamis, and landslides.

“The GWB program is Godsend — there was no other program like this when I started working in Indonesia in the years that followed the 2004 tsunami,” said Ron Harris, Project Investigator, GWB Java WAVES project. “GWB is unique in its disaster risk reduction support for communities that live in these regions across the world and are vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.” Listen to Ron talk about his experience on SEG’s Seismic Soundoff podcast.

In addition to fostering resilient and sustainable communities worldwide through long-term solutions like early warning systems and preparedness, GWB projects also deliver clean water, sanitation, and hygiene benefits to those in need.

“I have been living in Sadhana Forest (Tamilnadu, India) for two years and have seen firsthand how the water quality for the community has greatly improved with the drilling of a new borewell with GWB’s support,” reflected Supriya Sai Siddanathi, a long-term community volunteer. “In the past, potable water during the monsoon season was murky and unpleasant to use or drink. This year with the newly drilled borewells, the water was very clear — even during the summer monsoon that just ended. The new well will also make a difference in accessibility to water during the hot and dry summer months.”