Disasters and terrorism wreak havoc in 2005

Like 2004, people were not free from storms, floods, earthquakes and terrorism in 2005. More than 300,000 were killed in such catastrophes ranging from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, USA, to the massive earthquake in Pakistan and India. Scores of countries came forward to provide much-needed relief to the victims of these natural calamities, which caused US$100 billion in damage. Even after four years of U.S. President George W. Bush's war on terror, thousands of innocent men, women and children continue to be blown to pieces in Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Pakistan, India and Indonesia. Meanwhile, Indonesia played host to the historic Asian-African Summit in April 2005. --JP