Understanding the Effect of the Tsunami and Its Aftermath on Vulnerability to HIV in Coastal India

The tsunami disaster of December 2004 affected millions of people, dramatically mag- nifying the challenges that survivors and aid providers face in smaller emergencies elsewhere around the world. In 2005, Oxfam launched a program to investigate social, economic, and health issues that are critical to the recovery of tsunami survivors. Working through partners in universities and institutes in the region, Oxfam is carrying out studies that combine data and perspectives from disaster-affected communities with existing knowledge from related fields. Our goals are to strengthen the programs of Oxfam and other humanitarian aid providers for this and future emergencies, and to improve accountability to those we aim to help. In 2006, Oxfam commissioned the Swasti Health Resource Center in Bangalore, India, to study whether the 2004 tsunami and its aftermath increased vulnerability to HIV infection among affected residents of coastal India. Researchers found that such vulnerability did indeed increase in most of the 30 communities studied, primarily because the physical, social, and psychological conditions after the tsunami led to a significant increase in unprotected sex with non-regular sexual partners, especially among people living in temporary shelters. The research team recommends measures that government, local NGOs, and international aid groups can take to minimize the risk of HIV infection among displaced people after major disasters.