This report provides a meta-analysis to synthesise insights from 382 documents from the tsunami recovery literature on the key factors contributing to vulnerability to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and to emerging vulnerabilities related to post-disaster recovery in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Vulnerability is a concept that is often used yet rarely systematically explained or rigorously investigated in practice and just 40 documents were found to contain actual substantiated vulnerability insights with a focus on vulnerable groups.

A total of 137 substantiated vulnerability insights were identified and the most vulnerable groups identified were displaced people, women, children, families, farmers and victims from other emergencies. 75% of all risks identified were emerging during the recovery
process, and half of these relate to aid delivery.

Download the research report (PDF: 1.01MB)

See also the working paper from 2008 Vulnerability in the context of post 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami recovery: Lessons for building more resilient coastal communities