#2004 indian ocean earthquake and tsunami

[mapsontheweb]

Deaths and damage caused by the Boxing Day tsunami on December 26, 2004

[historyandarthijinks]

Real Life Heroes (1): Tilly Smith

A 10 year old girl at the time of 2004, Tilly Smith would happen to save the lives of over 100 people while on vacation with her family.

Tilly Smith is British woman from the village of Oxshott in Surrey, England. In 2004 her family went on vacation in Thailand, where they would spend an evening on Mai Khao Beach. Unknown to the approximately 100 beachgoers, and Tilly's family, the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake had just occurred 150 miles (240km) from the coast of Sumatra Island, Indonesia.

The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake affected 18 different countries primarily, not including the thousands of tourists caught in the disaster.

Including...

India

Indonesia

Malaysia

Maldives

Myanmar

Somalia

Sri Lanka

Thailand

Bangladesh

Kenya

Seychelles

South Africa

Tanzania

Yemen

Australia

Madagascar

Mauritius

Oman

The worst affected of these countries were Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. According to Wikipedia's numbers, there were about 227, 898 casualties. The earthquake itself was a 9.2 magnitude. Many of the waves kicked up were up to 30 m (100 ft.) tall. It only lasted ten minutes...

What made the disaster so destructive and deadly was the preparedness of the nations hit. Despite the fact that the area of the Indian Ocean in which the earthquake occurred had a history of activity, no major populations were yet hit. The area was not viewed as a significant concern by nearby countries.

There were no warning systems in place. Nations instead leaned on the hope that their people would be properly knowledgeable about signs of tsunamis and have prepared their own places of evacuation. This wasn't fruitless. Many of the coastal population had zero to little knowledge about what to look out for, and especially what to do in case of disaster.

The same could not be said for Tilly Smith.

Tilly took pride in learning from her school teacher, Andrew Kearney at Danes Hill School. She learned in his geography class about the warning signs and what to do's about several natural disasters, including tsunamis.

Remembering the school lesson, that morning she witnessed the signs of a tsunami on the coast.

A quote from an interview done with her in 2005 was, "The water was really, really frothy. It wasn't calm, and it wasn't going in and then out. It was just coming in and in."

She immediately went to go alert her parents. At first they did not believe her, because they didn't see any large waves over the horizons. They decided to listen to her urgency though, and came to the security guards.

While trying to convince to the security guard of the threat, a nearby by English-speaking Japanese man had her say the word tsunami. He informed the group that he just heard that there was an earthquake in Sumatra. The beach was evacuated into one the resort buildings. Quickly after, a 9 m (30ft.) tsunami crashed through the shore, the evacuated peoples narrowly avoiding the event by seconds.

Mai Khao Beach was one out of few that day which had no causalities.

Tilly Smith was awarded the Thomas Grey Special Award from the Marine Society & Sea Cadets. She earned the moniker Angel of the Beach. To this day Tilly is a face of coastal and natural disaster safety.

So what are the signs of a tsunami.

Any nearby or on location earthquakes

Loud roar from the ocean similar to a jet or train

rapid rise or fall of the water along the coast

What to do you in case of one

highest ground possible, as quick as possible

[thatwritererinoriordan]

Now available in your favorite podcaster player

[bekolxeram]

I swear this is the last time I bring up that air tanker in 2x14 voluntarily. The bottom line is, if you believe Tommy did fly that plane, that makes him not even superhero level cool, but Jonny Kim level cool. If you believe he didn't, then he's just as cool, always knowing a guy from all walks of line, ready to help out with whatever resource on hand the second Chimney says the word. At the end of the day, he saved the 118 and a bunch of civilians either way, and he did it again in S7 flying to that cruise ship. He'll always be our cool heroic pilot no matter what.

With that being said, I have some thoughts about the CAL FIRE line from the news reporter in that episode. If you're not interested, please read no further. And if you don't want to see this kind of posts at all but still want to read my other content, please block the tag #aviation realism.

I know Bobby said "217 incoming" when he saw that C-130, only the news reporter mentioned it was with CAL FIRE. That's why I suspect the CAL FIRE line was shoved in after the actual scenes were filmed, because they realized or someone explained to them how impractical and dangerous for an urban fire department to own a giant air tanker and just dump tons of water all over the city.

I saw the same technique utilized for the tsunami arc in S3. Anyone who has taken geography in high school can tell that in reality, there is no megathrust fault capable of generating Indian Ocean 2004 or Japan 2011 scale tsunami off the coast of SoCal. So where did the tsunami come from? In 3x02, before Sue asks Maddie to "triage" the dispatchers, you can hear once again a news reporter saying the tsunami is triggered by an earthquake off the coast of Alaska. This takes the fictional tsunami scenario from having zero basis in real life, to possible in extreme cases and greatly exaggerated for dramatic effect.

I thank whatever divine intervention or persistent technical advisor that made the CAL FIRE line possible.

2x14 was first aired on April 15, 2019. What you might not remember or realize is that something notable happened across the Atlantic on the very same day: the Notre-Dame fire. The entire world watched the cathedral burned for hours while over 400 firefighters all over Paris tried to contain the flame. A certain f...... former US president then suggested on Twitter that "perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out."

The French immediately responded by pointing out that dumping large amount of water from an aircraft at low altitude could "weaken the structure of Notre-Dame and result in collateral damage to the buildings in the vicinity." A retired FDNY battalion chief also told the media that water bombing would likely make the situation more dangerous, as civilians on the street might be hit if you miss the target.

The entire internet was clowning on that stable genius for such an innovative idea all afternoon. Imagine if 2x14 aired later that evening with not even a smaller single engine one, but a large 4 engine airtanker somehow belonging to the LAFD, that would come off extra stupid, even meme inspiring. But with the CAL FIRE line, they could at least claim that it was the extreme and rare circumstances requiring additional assistance from other agencies in the area, and it was not part of 911-verse LAFD's normal operation.

If the writers had done their homework beforehand and the CAL FIRE thing was always part of the script, good for them. If it was indeed shoved into the scene last minute, then they should thank their lucky stars.

I can already imagine the headache Bobby is going to have working on Hotshots as a consultant.

[lifewithchronicpain]

Memorials were held for the victims of the tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean region, killing more than 200,000 people in one of modern history’s worst natural disasters.

On December 26, 2004, a magnitude-9.1 earthquake off Indonesia’s western tip generated a series of massive waves that pummelled the coastline of 14 countries from Indonesia to Somalia.

In Indonesia’s Aceh province, where more than 100,000 people were killed, a siren rang out at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque to kick off a series of memorials around the region, including Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, which the tsunami hit hours later.

“I thought it was doomsday,” said Hasnawati, a 54-year-old teacher who goes by one name, at the Indonesian mosque which was damaged by the tsunami.

“On a Sunday morning, when our family were all laughing together, suddenly disaster struck and everything was gone. I can’t describe it with words.”

Some mourners sat and cried at Aceh’s Ulee Lheue mass grave, where about 14,000 are buried, while some villages held their own prayers around the province as they remembered the tragedy that devastated entire communities.

For those not born yet, or too young to remember, the Sumatra earthquake created a tsunami that essentially spread across the Indian Ocean hitting India the hardest and making it all the way to Africa. Before this event, tsunamis were sometimes called “tidal waves”. This event cemented “tsunami” as the word for these waves in modern nomenclature.

[sonyaheaneyauthor]

26th December 2004: The moment the Indian Ocean tsunami hit Ao Nang, Krabi Province, Thailand.

In Krabi 476 people were killed, nearly a thousand went missing, and over a thousand were injured.

The earthquake that triggered the tsunami was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Asia. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed across multiple countries.

[sifu-kisu]

After three years of training with acclaimed Chinese martial art wushu teacher Wu Bin, Jet Li won his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. Between 1974 and 1979, he won the title of Men's All-Around National Wushu Champion five times. After retiring from competitive wushu at age 18, Li went on to win great acclaim in China as an actor, making his debut with the film "Shaolin Temple" (1982), which instantly catapulted him to stardom in East Asia.

In 1998, he made his international film debut in "Lethal Weapon 4" which also marked the first time he had ever played a villain in a film. He agreed to do "Lethal Weapon 4" after the producer Joel Silver promised to give him the leading role in his next film, "Romeo Must Die" (2000), alongside singer Aaliyah. The film became a box office hit. Though Li spoke very little English at the time of production, his performance as Chinese mafia hitman Wah Sing Ku was praised.

Li was in the Maldives when a tsunami hit during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Although it was widely reported at the time that he had died during the disaster, he only suffered a minor foot injury, caused by a piece of floating furniture while he was guiding his four-year-old daughter Jane and the family nanny holding his one-year-old daughter Jada to safety of higher ground amid dangerously rising ocean water. The four of them were by the pool and slightly above the beach when the wave came ashore, barely escaping to the upper floors of a hotel building.

According to Li, everything he has ever wanted to tell the world can be found in three of his films: the message of "Hero" (2002, below) is that the suffering of one person can never be as significant as the suffering of a nation; "Unleashed" (2005) shows that violence is never a solution; and "Fearless" (2006) tells that the biggest enemy of a person is himself. Li thinks that the greatest weapon is a smile and the largest power is love.

"We are a global family. The religion is different, the languages are different, but we are human beings and we need to help each other." (Wikipedia/IMDb)

Happy Birthday, Jet Li!

[start-official]

🏮 20 years since that terrible day 🌊

December 26, 2004, 7:58 (local time), a terrible roar followed by an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 9.1 strikes off the coast of the northern island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

It will be remembered as the third most powerful earthquake in history.

But that's not all. The epicenter, located on the ocean floor, generates waves that reach 30 meters high. The tsunami causes more victims than the earthquake, sowing destruction even in countries that did not even feel the tremors.

Indonesia is the first to suffer the waves surges and cities like Banda Aceh, are completely reduced to plains of rubble and mud.

Other people pay a high price for their lives, without warnings or alarms, due to the then serious lack of monitoring systems in the Indian Ocean.

In the following hours, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh and even the eastern coasts of Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Africa, will suffer the same fate.

🇹🇭 🇲🇲 🇮🇳 🇲🇾 🇱🇰 🇲🇻 🇮🇩 🇧🇩 🇰🇪 🇸🇴 🇹🇿 🇲🇬 🇿🇦

The total number of victims was about 230,000, of which 20,000 were missing and never found. This will be, and is, remembered as one of the most violent disasters in history.

The world woke up to a disaster, but also to so much humanity, especially from other nations, helping, saving, donating and caring for those who had managed to survive.

Thanks: ONU, UNICEF, UNHCR, MediciSenzaFrontiere, SaveTheChildren, CARE, ICRC, IFRC, NOAA, WHO 🪷

[travsd]

Three Movies About the 2004 Tsunami

December 26, 2004 (20 years ago today) was one of the worst days in human history in terms of loss of life. Nearly a quarter of a million people were killed when a massive offshore earthquake in the Indian Ocean (9.3 on the Richter scale) set off a tsunami that rose as high as 100 feet in some spots, traveling far inland. The countries most effected were Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand,…

[sweetkoalastarfish]

20 Years On: Remembering the Tsunami That Changed the World

Two decades ago, on December 26, 2004, the world witnessed one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. The Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a 9.1-9.3 magnitude undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, claimed over 230,000 lives across 14 countries and left millions more grappling with loss, destruction, and profound change. As we mark the 20th anniversary, we reflect on its enduring impact, lessons learned, and the resilience of humanity in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

A Day That Shook the World

The earthquake struck at 7:58 a.m. local time, releasing energy equivalent to 1,500 Hiroshima atomic bombs. It was the third-largest earthquake ever recorded and lasted up to ten minutes. The resulting tsunami waves, some towering over 30 meters, radiated across the Indian Ocean, devastating coastlines in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, and even parts of Africa thousands of kilometers away.

Entire communities were wiped out in minutes. Banda Aceh in Indonesia, closest to the epicenter, bore the brunt of the disaster, with over 160,000 lives lost. Thailand's picturesque beaches, bustling with holidaymakers, became scenes of chaos and despair. In Sri Lanka, the waves reached as far as two kilometers inland, displacing over half a million people.

Global Response and Solidarity

The magnitude of the disaster elicited an unprecedented global response. Governments, humanitarian organizations, and individuals mobilized to provide immediate aid and long-term support. Over $14 billion was pledged for relief and reconstruction efforts, making it one of the largest international aid efforts in history.

Volunteers from around the world flocked to affected regions, offering their expertise and support. The disaster also underscored the importance of coordinated international responses to natural calamities and led to the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System in 2006.

Lessons Learned

1. Preparedness and Early Warning Systems: The lack of a robust warning system in 2004 meant that many communities were caught off guard. Today, advancements in seismic monitoring and tsunami alert systems have significantly reduced response times and potential loss of life.

2. Community Resilience: The tragedy highlighted the importance of educating coastal communities about natural warning signs, such as receding shorelines, and implementing evacuation plans.

3. Building Back Better: Reconstruction efforts emphasized sustainable and resilient infrastructure. While challenges remain, many affected regions have emerged stronger, with improved disaster management protocols.

The Human Spirit of Recovery

Amid the devastation, stories of survival and solidarity emerged. Families reunited against all odds, strangers became lifelong friends through shared grief and recovery, and countless individuals transformed personal loss into a mission to help others. Survivors like Petra Nemcová, a Czech supermodel who was severely injured in Thailand, went on to establish foundations to aid disaster-stricken communities.

Looking Ahead

Twenty years later, the memories of the 2004 tsunami remain etched in the collective consciousness. Memorials and commemorative events are held annually to honor those lost, while survivors and their families continue to rebuild their lives. The disaster serves as a stark reminder of nature’s power and the need for continued vigilance in disaster preparedness.

As we look back on this tragic event, we also celebrate the resilience of the human spirit. The 2004 tsunami changed the world, not just in terms of geography and infrastructure, but in fostering a global sense of empathy and interconnectedness that continues to inspire humanitarian efforts today.

Conclusion

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was a tragedy of unimaginable proportions, but it also revealed humanity's capacity for compassion, resilience, and innovation. Twenty years on, the lessons learned from that day continue to shape our approach to disaster management, ensuring that we are better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

Let us honor the memory of those we lost by committing to a safer, more resilient future for all.

Thank you for reading.

[onheirpodcast]

On Boxing Day 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean caused a tsunami which killed over 225,000 people. Sweden was far and away the most impacted nation outside Asia, both in terms of the death toll and the proportion of the population. While the King and Queen were carrying out daily events as the disaster unfolded, Crown Princess Victoria earned some flack for choosing not to end her holiday in Kenya, coming back a week after the disaster. However, her emotional response during her first engagement - when the first bodies were flown home - safeguarded her from some of the criticism amongst the press.

[camillasgirl]

Queen Camilla’s Patronages

Shelterbox (President from 07.08.2007)

Every year thousands of communities, often with no warning, lose their homes, their possessions and their livelihoods. Every day they are faced with a battle for survival. We provide emergency shelter and vital supplies to support communities around the world overwhelmed by disaster and humanitarian crisis. Since we began in 2000, we have responded to earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, typhoons and conflict, delivering emergency humanitarian aid to communities in need.The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Syria crisis, and the biggest storm to ever make landfall – Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines; we have responded to some of the largest humanitarian crises the modern world has ever known. Alongside this, we have also helped many thousands of people displaced by disasters that are not featured in the media. Simply put, if there are families in need of emergency shelter, we will do everything we can to help them.A world in which all people displaced by disasters and humanitarian crises are rapidly provided with emergency shelter and vital aid, which will help rebuild their communities and lives.To rapidly provide emergency shelter and vital aid to stabilise, protect and support communities overwhelmed by disaster and humanitarian crisis.

[veikkoalen]

there's a guy on twitter who promotes that 2004 indian ocean tsunami and 2010 haiti earthquake were actually nuclear attacks to avenge 911 consealed as natural disasters

im mildly interested in this case cuz thats the first time i see non mainstream conspiracy

[cleverwordsandotherstuffilike]

Deaths

300 million – Smallpox, worldwide, 20th century200 million – Bubonic plague, worldwide, 1300s62 million – World War II, worldwide60 million – Mongol conquests, 13th century 50 million – H1N1 flu pandemic, worldwide, 191850 million – Famine, worldwide, 1960s 19 million – AIDS, worldwide to date9.6 million – Cancer, worldwide, 2017 1 million – Irish potato famine, 1846-1849 1 million – Flu pandemic, worldwide, 1957  1 million – Mosquito, annual, worldwide 835,000 – COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide, 2020 830,000 – Shaanxi earthquake, China, 1556800,000 – Rwanda, 1994 650,000 – Roman Colosseum for public entertainment, 80-404 618,222 – US Civil War 500,000 – War, Iraqis, 2003 to 2011 500,000 – Famine, worldwide, 2010-2016 400,000 – Homicides per year, worldwide 295,000 – Pregnancy and childbirth, worldwide 227,898 – Indian Ocean tsunami, 2004 113,990 – Injuries, Palestinians, 2008-2020 97,207 – Bosnian war 70,237 – Drug Overdoses (US), 2017 60,000 – Natural disasters per year, worldwide 58,209 – Vietnam War, 1955-1975 (US) 50,000 – Snakes, worldwide 48,344 – Suicide, annual (US) 38,000 – Car accidents, annual (US) 36,000 – Krakatoa eruption, Indonesia, 188332,836 – Terrorism, worldwide, 2018 30,000 – The Blitz, Londoners 25,000 – Hippopotamus16,214 – Homicides, US, 2018 15,000 – Holy Inquisition, 1184-180014,000 – Opioid overdoses, Canada, 2016-2020 5,614 – Injuries, Israelis, 2008-2020 5,585 – Fatalities, Palestinians, 2008-2020 3,466 – The Troubles, Ireland, 1968-1998 1,950 – Halifax explosion, 1917 1,517 – RMS Titanic, 19121,000 – Crocodile, worldwide651 – Homicides, Canada, 2018 500 – Plane crashes, worldwide, 2018 500 – Hippopotamus, Africa 300 – Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (US)270 – Pan Am Flight 103, Lockerbie, Scotland, 1988249 – Fatalities, Israelis, 2008-2020 72 – Grenfell Tower fire, London, 2017 36 – Hindenburg disaster, Lakehurst, N.J., 1937 (US)7 – Space shuttle Challenger, Florida, 1986 (US)4 – Kent State shootings, 1970 (US)

[salemontrial]

I'm doing a PSA because I have a natural disaster special interest rn and I don't see people talking about this fact as much

We all know that when you see the tide receding very rapidly to run and find higher ground because it's probably a tsunami. This is very true. But that's only one side of the wave.

When a tsunami is the result of an underwater tectonic shift (usually a thrust earthquake from what ive seen), it circles out in a sort of extremely violent ripple, creating both a positive wave and a negative wave. When the negative wave comes first, it sucks all the water out into the ocean as we all know.

When the positive wave comes in though, it comes in like a flood. (If you want an example of how this effects countries that surround the same ocean, try researching the 2004 indian ocean earthquake and tsunami, specifically in Sri Lanka. A lot of countries were effected but some of the most hard-hit countries were Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka, as they were the closest in either direction.)

It's important that you're aware of all available warning signs, so while you stay vigilant about sudden low tide, you should be just as worried about sudden high tide or a sudden increase of wave height.

And if you know you live in a tsunami-inclined area (or even just near the coast or ocean-connected body of water) you should always have a plan for what you do incase of a tsunami warning, as well as being aware of the ways tsunamis can form (earthquake, landslide, eruption, if you're near the coast and feel the ground moving it's a cause for tsunami concern). And please for the love of God, if you get a tsunami warning please please listen. Don't go out and try to watch it. No you cannot swim through a tsunami, no your house will likely not make it through, there is a very solid chance you won't be able to outrun it once it's broken shore, please take whatever amount of warning you get because it can make all the difference. A false alarm is an inconvenience. A tsunami can and very well could kill you.

Its midnight and I dont know if I explained this well BUT stay safe love yall<3

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 51 of 2023

Title: Chasing Chaos: My Decade in and Out of Humanitarian Aid Authors: Jessica Alexander ISBN: 9780770436919 Tags: AU African Union, AU AUMIS African Union Mission in the Sudan, BDI Burundi, COG Congo-Brazzaville, Disaster - Cyclone Nargis (2008), Disaster - Hatian Earthquake (2010), Disaster - Hurricane Mitch (1998), Disaster - Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (2004), GBR BA British Army, GBR United Kingdom, HND Honduras, HND Teguchigalpa, HTI Delmas 31 Camp, HTI Gaston Margon Camp, HTI Haiti, HTI Jacmel, HTI MINUSTAH United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti, HTI Port-au-Prince, Humanitarian Aid, ICC International Criminal Court - Hague, IDN Banda Aceh, IDN Indonesia, KEN Kenya, KEN Nairobi, LBR Liberia, LBR National Patriotic Front of Liberia, LBR President Charles Taylor, LKA Sri Lanka, LKA Tamil Tigers, MOZ Mozambique, RWA Hutu Tribe, RWA ICTR International Criminal Trial for Rwanda (Rwandan Civil War), RWA KGL Kigali International Airport, RWA Kibuye, RWA Kigali, RWA Kinbungo, RWA Kiziba, RWA President Juvenal Habyarimana, RWA Rwanda, RWA Rwandan Civil War (1990-1994), RWA Rwandan Genocide (1994) (Rwandan Civil War), RWA Tutsi Tribe, SDN Abu Shouk Refugee Camp, SDN Al Salam Refugee camp, SDN Dar Zagawa, SDN Darfur, SDN Darfur - Abu Shouk Refugee Camp, SDN Darfur - Al Salam Refugee Camp, SDN Darfur - Zam Zam Refugee Camp, SDN Hamadyia Refugee Camp, SDN Hassa Hissa Refugee Camp, SDN Janjaweed Militia, SDN Jebel Marra, SDN Jebel Si, SDN JEM Justice and Equality Movement Army, SDN Juba, SDN Kalma Refugee Camp, SDN Khartoum, SDN Korma, SDN Mukjar, SDN North Darfur, SDN North Darfur - El Fasher, SDN Nuba Mountains, SDN Nyala, SDN President Omar Al-Bashir, SDN Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005), SDN SLA Sudanese Liberation Army, SDN South Darfur, SDN Sudan, SDN Tawila, SDN Zalingei, SDN Zam Zam Refugee Camp, SLE Bo, SLE Child Soldiers (Sierra Leone Civil War), SLE Freetown, SLE IMATT International Military Advisory and Training Team, SLE Kailahun, SLE Makeni, SLE RUF Revolutionary United Front, SLE SCSL Special Court (Sierra Leone Civil War), SLE Sierra Leone, SLE Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002), TCD Chad, TMP East Timor, TMP Free Aceh Movement, TZA Tanzania, UN UNDP United Nations Development Programme, UN UNICEF United Nations Childrens Fund, UN United Nations, US NY JFK International Airport, US NY New York, USAID Rating: ★★★★ (4 stars) Subject: Disasters

Description: An eye-opening and intimate memoir about life as an international humanitarian aid worker in the field in Rwanda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Haiti. Jessica Alexander arrived in Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide as an idealist intern, excited to be a part of the international humanitarian aid community. But the world that she encountered in the field was dramatically different than anything she could have imagined. In this honest and irreverent memoir, she introduces readers to the reality of the life of an aid worker. We watch as she helps to resettle refugees in Rwanda, manages a 24,000-person camp in Darfur, and helps a former child soldier in Sierra Leone get rid of a tattoo that was carved into his skin by a rebel group. But we also see the alcoholic parties and fleeting romances, the burnouts and cyncism, the plans and priorities that constantly shift and change. Tracing her personal journey from idealistic and naïve newcomer to hardened cynic to hopeful but critical realist, Alexander transports readers to some of the most troubled locations and shows us not only the impossible challenges, but also the moments of hope and recovery. Review: It was a pretty decent book that gave the reader some insight into the situations in Darfur, Haiti, and Sierra Leone from the perspective of a humanitarian aid worker. You'll understand why the help offered is rarely helpful at all, and good intentions is really a double edged sword. There's some good, a lot of bad, a lot of stress, confusion, and a system rigged to fail for the most part. But there's also the human element, and the people that are affected at every level make this a story worth reading.