It led to the death of more than 1,60,000 persons and injuries to over a million -- all scattered in different countries of the Indian Ocean Rim, stretching from Malaysia in the east to Somalia in the west. This unprecedented catastrophe left in its wake indiscriminate devastation. The destruction caused has been variously estimated at being around US dollars ten billion.

Bangladesh, at the northern most point of the event, suffered the least -- three deaths and very negligible impact. Geologists subsequently indicated that the extended continental shelf in its coastline protected it from harm.

The citizens of this country, who have experienced major natural disasters over the last few decades reacted with great compassion. People from all walks of life expressed their respect for the tsunami victims. Candles were lit at the Central Shaheed Minar, prayers offered in different places of worship and token silence observed in meetings. In addition, as the US Ambassador in Dhaka observed, resource starved Bangladesh, 'assumed the role of donor by sending relief supplies and personnel to Sri Lanka aboard giant C-130 aircraft provided by the US government to support Bangladesh's contribution to peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.' Another small medical detachment was also sent to the Maldives, a fellow member of the SAARC community.

Unfortunately however, no representative of Bangladesh was sent to Jakarta to attend the Tsunami Summit that was convened there in the first week of January. This was an opportunity missed.

Here was a chance to improve our image abroad. We should have gone to that meeting, attended by leaders of 26 nations and heads of several multilateral funding agencies and spoken about the severe impact of natural disasters. We could have pointed out how Bangladesh had sustained major losses of over US dollar three billion during the floods last year and how the nation was rehabilitating itself through its own efforts. We might have also offered to the United Nations our disaster handling experts to tackle reconstruction needs throughout the tsunami affected region.

In addition to all of these points, Bangladesh could have also drawn the attention of the conference to a specific danger that is being faced by all the countries in the India Ocean Rim. This relates to the vast increase in coastal populations which has put more people at risk. It may be noted here that of the roughly four billion people who live in Asia, 7 per cent live near the coasts -- and that population is expected to double by the end of the century.

In this context, we could have also highlighted several ecological factors that are disturbing the natural balance -- ranging from disturbance of natural sand dunes to clearing of mangrove swamps. Our presence would have permitted us to participate more actively in future action and research that will be undertaken to protect affected Indian Ocean Rim countries.

Natural disasters affect every part of the world. It is just that the developed world, with greater resources, are able to pre-empt disasters and also plan necessary post-disaster mechanisms ahead of time. This helps them to suitably tackle and overcome relief and rehabilitation problems. We have witnessed this time and again in Florida last year. We have also seen how over the last three decades, facilities like the Hawaii Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre have helped the Pacific Rim countries.

Geologists argue that tsunamis represent a double uncertainty. They point out that tsunamis depend essentially on two unknowable factors -- the exact topography of the seabed at the epicentre of a quake and precise prediction of the earthquakes that cause them. Some geologists have also noted that it would have been extremely difficult to predict that the earthquake near Sumatra would affect far-away Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, a Centre like that in Hawaii, might have enabled India, Thailand and Sri Lanka to have taken pre-emptive safety measures.

This unprecedented disaster has clearly evidenced the extreme vulnerability of coastal areas in the Indian ocean. A functional early warning system would have been able to avert at least some of the enormous losses.

Today, after the disastrous tsunami, there is need for Indian Ocean Rim countries to seriously examine how best they can organise their regional resources to prepare and also combat after-effects of massive natural disasters -- be they cyclones or tsunamis. Cash strapped developing countries will have to coordinate a multiple response system and a regional plan of action.

This time round, Bangladesh escaped this unfortunate dance of death. This might not happen the second time round. We need to play an active role in this regard.

The Jakarta Conference has most wisely decided to make the United Nations the focal point for post-disaster management and reconstruction efforts. The European Union, United States, Canada and Japan have all shown great maturity in their handling of this humanitarian situation. They recognise that the task ahead requires sustained effort for months. Billions of US dollars have been pledged and moratoriums granted for debt repayments. Louis Michel, the EU Development Commissioner from Belgium, has also aptly pointed out that donor governments 'should not lose sight of the quality of aid' and 'how aid will be used in affected areas.'

United States has made available contingents of its global armed forces' presence for relief operations. That is commendable. We remember with gratitude the relief efforts undertaken by General Stackpole after our own disastrous cyclone in 1991. Similarly, one must also praise the Japanese decision this time round to despatch nearly 1000 military personnel to Indonesia in that country's biggest overseas deployment since the Second World War. These troops are expected to provide medical aid and transport support and also help victims of the tsunami disaster. By this step, the Japanese government has further re-enforced its claim as a suitable contender for the permanent membership of the UN Security Council from Asia.

One feels that caution is needed, but that should not affect or delay the actual disbursement and the rebuilding of infrastructure in important sectors like education, health, tele-communications, transportation and housing. The main thrust of the recovery efforts has to start now using local expertise. It should not have to depend on foreign consultants. What is vital is that the United Nations re-establish people's livelihoods and their coastal environments.

The UNDP should also begin supporting national authorities in recovery planning and, sooner than later, undertake inter-agency recovery assessment missions.

The United Nations might consider initiating the following steps immediately:

- Providing housing and restoring basic services such as water and access roads;

- providing short-term employment in the reconstruction/construction of small scale fisheries in tsunami affected areas;

- restoring critical small-scale infrastructure to enable the commencement of longer term recovery activities;

- strengthening the capacity of local organisations and local government in the coastal areas to develop recovery programmes;

- supporting local communities by establishing new and/or expanded microfinance systems that can facilitate access to credit for affected families requiring boats and essential equipment;

- restoring critical small-scale infrastructure like minor irrigation systems, pedestrian bridges, minor sanitation and drainage systems and community buildings (which can act as temporary educational units);

- providing technical partners for capacity re-building;

- repairing critical infrastructures like jetties and harbours;

- ensuring that the UNICEF takes the lead in interfacing with other civil society representatives in setting up a computerised data base of children/orphans who have been separated from relatives. This is particularly required not only for eventual re-unification with families but also to avoid these children being targeted by criminal gangs;

- using a community based approach that incorporates skills training, peer counselling and joint ownership; and

- helping to establish not only an early-warning system but also facilitating the creation of national stakeholders required for a comprehensive national disaster prevention and reduction framework.

Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador -- any response to mzamir@dhaka.net.