On december 26th  2004, an undersea earthquake, known as the Sumatra-Andaman, of magnitude 9,0 on the Richter scale, struck the Indian Ocean area. This  earthquake is considered one of the most violent ever registered. The resulting tsunami devastated the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India and South Thailand with waves up to 100 ft. It caused serious damage and deaths as far as the east coast of Africa. The plight of the many affected people and countries prompted a widespread humanitarian response. The death toll  engendered by this catastrophe approximates 280'000.

  

Like everyone else all over the world, the MCEI Geneva Chapter members, under the impulse of their President Dr. Paul Genton, contributed to the rehabilitation.

  

An equivalent amount was added on by the chapter fund and the whole sum was entrusted to the district governor of the Lions Club of Colombo Orient, who undertook an immense reconstruction program. In Kahawa, in the Dodanduwa region of Sri Lanka, ten houses were built to relodge local families. Five of these are a result of the MCEI Geneva Chapter donation.