Tsunami Impact: For thousands, life is "Unbelievably Gr

[b]Tsunami Impact: For thousands, life is "Unbelievably Grim"[/b]

By Thalif Deen - Inter Press Service

[b]United Nations, 03 February, (IPS): [/b]A survey of more than 50,000 tsunami survivors in five Asian countries has revealed that most of them have been doubly devastated: losing their loved ones in the December 2004 natural disaster, and subsequently having their human rights abused by their own governments.

The five countries -- Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives -- are accused of discrimination in aid distri inter press service (ips) news agencybution, forced relocation, arbitrary arrests and sexual and gender-based violence.

These governments "frequently ignored human rights principles and failed to protect survivors from discrimination, land grabbing and violence", says the five-country study by three non-governmental organisations (NGOs): ActionAid International, People's Movement for Human Rights Learning (PDHRE) and Habitat International Coalition.

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