The reconstruction of South Asia is the common  interest of the peoples of all continents. The  impulse of solidarity should be the vehicle of  a lasting social and political convergence in the  face of the major issues of the world today, especially  those concerning fundamental rights, legitimate  popular demands, the economy, the environment and, evidently, security and the prevention of dangers.  Therefore die EL considers the creation of a European  civil protection unit to be a priority. In the  framework of the UN it should ensure an efficient  response of Europe by the centralization, coordination  and mobilization of international humanitarian  operations. In this spirit, the rapid installation of an anti-seismic warning system for the Indian  Ocean has become obligatory.

 This terrible catastrophe of Southern Asia must  lead the governments, the organisations concerned,  and in particular the international financial institutions  to taking immediate measures and to making concrete commitments and major reforms for the future. The  very rapid cancellation of the debt of the countries  affected is absolutely necessary, the granting  of very low interest loans for reconstruction is  a long term necessity; a world-wide tax on the  speculative currency and capital transfers should  rapidly be set up; the acceleration of the effective achievement of the “Millenary Objectives” for  development and the elimination of poverty (unanimously  adopted by the UN in 2000) must be the subject  of a collective decision, including the increase  of public aid for development at least to the long  agreed 0.7% of the GNP of every country concerned.  The retired EU fishing boats could be sent to South Asia, where there is a serious need after the terrible  loss of fishing equipment.
 The European Left Party supports the UN’s call  for respect of the commitments undertaken. National  and popular solidarities must be accompanied by the  greatest vigilance so as to really help, to the very end, the peoples of South Asia and Africa who have  been so hard hit. We will closely follow all steps  of implementation of the humanitarian aid promises,  thus strengthening public control in this field.