The Tsunami that occurred in November 2004 killed over 140,000 people, leaving several million homeless in Aceh Province and Sri

The late-December tsunami ushered in 2005 on a somber note, with the death toll at over 140,000 and rising. Several million have been left homeless along the Indian Ocean coast, in particular in Indonesia’s Aceh province and in Sri Lanka. The rebuilding, along with the immediate need for emergency food and medical assistance, will require a global relief effort.

The United Nations health agency has confirmed a fourth bird flu death in Vietnam, and says an increased number of patients are seeking treatment for flu-like symptoms in the country’s capital. Bird flu has been spreading rapidly among chickens in several Asian countries.