Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang yesterday returned home with two survivors of the Tsunami after attending the donor summit in Indonesia.

Tshabalala-Msimang led the delegation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disaster Management to the donor summit on the tsunami in Indonesia, which was held on Thursday.

The Minister returned with the couple, Jeanette and Alan Gordon who were in Indonesia when the devastating tsunami hit the South East Asian region, killing over 150 000 people.

They belong to a five-member family, which includes Alistair and Jackie McCreadie who arrived in South Africa on December 28, last year.

However, there are still about 740 South Africans who were in the region when the tsunami hit, who are still unaccounted for.

"It is indeed heartening to return to the country accompanied by South Africans who have survived the disaster. It is even more heartening to note that they are bringing a message of hope to all the people of South Africa that despite the disaster, the people of Thailand and indeed Asia are standing up, picking up the pieces and trying to rebuild their lives," said the Tshabalala-Msimang.

The Minister urged all South Africans to continue lending a hand to people in the affected countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Somalia and Kenya.

"As we sat in the Inter-Ministerial Committee the greatest challenge facing us as South Africans who want to make a contribution both financially and materially is to coordinate all our efforts so that we can make maximum impact," said the Minister.

Survivor Jeanette also implored South Africans to help people in the region to rebuild their lives and countries.

"The experience of the tsunami disaster was indeed quite traumatic and heartbreaking. What we saw in Thailand is the devastation that left families dead, children orphaned and infrastructure destroyed. Despite the tragic disaster, the people of Thailand are trying to rebuild their lives and all South Africans should help them", she said.

Tshabalala-Msimang, who was accompanied by the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Buyelwa Sonjica, and a team of senior government officials are expected to give a report to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Monday and thereafter brief the media and all stakeholders. - BuaNews.