There seems to be a frenzy, a momentum to grab up anything you can. The decisions seem to be dictated by money and political expediency.

If people are displaced due to a development project, then it is a violation of their human rights and a violation by the government of its commitment to observing human rights.

We know that there has been some excellent work by governments and nongovernmental organizations in the wake of the tsunami -- the speed and scale of the response meant that lives were saved and many predicted outbreaks of epidemics were contained -- but it is not enough.

You cannot run a government by that kind of direct animosity towards your population because what we are looking ahead to is a much greater disaster.

Failure to immediately comply with human rights standards will deepen the human-induced tragedy already inflicted on the survivors of the tsunami.

Individual states, international agencies including the United Nations and its programs, civil society and the private sector, must redouble efforts towards the realization of human rights worldwide, including rights to disaster-preparedness and disaster response.

Ninety per cent of the people are still living in sub-standard housing.