WHEREAS, On December 26, 2004, one of the most devastating natural disasters of our lifetime brought modern civilization to its knees and unspeakable grief to our hearts; and
     WHEREAS, An earthquake, 9.0 in magnitude, centered underwater off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, triggered a tsunami that traveled at speeds of up to 500 miles per hour and 40 feet in height, devastating the coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Maldives; and
     WHEREAS, The disaster was felt as far away as Somalia, where nine people died; and
     WHEREAS, An estimated 212,611 people lost their lives in the disaster, and 6,245 people are still missing; 18 Americans are dead, and an additional 17 are missing and presumed dead; and
     WHEREAS, Governments, corporations, relief agencies, and individuals worldwide have come together to pledge more than $5 billion to the relief and recovery effort; and
     WHEREAS, UNICEF, Save The Children, and the Red Cross are international organizations that provide medical and basic need disaster relief services to underdeveloped and disaster-stricken regions; and
     WHEREAS, More than one million children were orphaned, displaced, injured, or otherwise affected by the disaster, and UNICEF has deemed these children the "Tsunami Generation"; and
     WHEREAS, Children are among the most vulnerable in this disaster; many have been orphaned or separated from their parents, making them susceptible to exploitation, abuse, or criminal trafficking, making current efforts by UNICEF and Save The Children to register, support, and keep such children safe of paramount importance; and
     WHEREAS, We also recognize Save The Children for its ongoing relief efforts setting up temporary camps and providing water, food, shelter, medicine, and protection from disease to both children and adults who were victimized by the tsunami; and
     WHEREAS, Recognizing the need to reopen schools in South Asia and reestablish children's daily routine, Education International established a Tsunami Relief Program to provide assistance directly to teachers, students, and schools in the affected areas; schools in Sri Lanka were able to reopen January 10th;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor and support the Red Cross, Save The Children, and UNICEF for their work to aid the victims of the tsunami and especially to protect the "Tsunami Generation" from further trauma; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Washington state chapters of the Red Cross, UNICEF, and Save The Children.