Tsunami funds languish in banks

BBC Newsnight has learnt that billions of dollars given by individuals and governments have still not been spent while two thirds of those who lost their houses are still waiting for them to be rebuilt.

UN tsunami envoy former US President Bill Clinton raised concerns about the slow pace of rebuilding.

"Only 30 to 35% of the people have been put back into permanent housing," he said. "We have to do better than that."

Newsnight has accessed the UN Department for Aid and Development database which tracks $6.7bn (£3.4bn) of money which has been pledged. Half of that - $3.3bn - has still not been spent.

from the BBC