Money donated to Oxfam has helped to rebuild tsunami-hit areas

The charity's 'Tsunami Accountability Report' has been produced to show the public how the money it gave to Oxfam's appeal has been spent.

It revealed that Oxfam raised �160m - 90% of which came from the public.

Oxfam's honorary president, Mary Robinson, said: "The magnitude of the disaster demanded a response on a scale beyond any previous experience."

The former president of Ireland said the tsunami had proved to be a "unique challenge", adding that it "generated an unprecedented surge of generosity from people around the world".

"This has imposed a massive responsibility on organisations such as Oxfam to demonstrate to donors that we are spending their money transparently and wisely," she said.

The report outlines how and where Oxfam has spent the public's money.

Oxfam's work has been instrumental in helping hundreds of thousands of people affected by the tsunami to rebuild their lives Barbara Stocking Director of Oxfam

It also details what has been achieved, some of the challenges that have been met and the charity's future plans.

The findings revealed that by the end of the first year, Oxfam will have already spent �73m - 45% of the total raised.

And so far the charity is estimated to have helped around 1.8 million people.

Oxfam has worked in the worst affected countries, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Somalia.

The challenges faced by the government include an absence of suitable building materials in Indonesia, insecurity in Somalia and a lack of government clarity on land rights.

Rebuilding lives

Despite these challenges, the report suggests that Oxfam played a crucial role in rapid rebuilding of livelihoods by providing cash-for-work programs and helped to rebuild old industries.

It also states that the charity helped to avert a public health crisis following the tsunami.

Barbara Stocking, Director of Oxfam, said: "Oxfam's work has been instrumental in helping hundreds of thousands of people affected by the tsunami to rebuild their lives.