Since 2003, as many as 2,800 people have gone missing in Thailand (not including those who were lost in the 2004 tsunami). The high incidence of missing persons reflects ongoing challenges in consolidating the institutions and practices of a society ruled by law. In December 2004, the third largest earthquake ever recorded triggered a devastating tsunami along coastal areas in the Indian Ocean. At least 250,000 people were reported dead and missing in 11 countries, including Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Maldives. An estimated 5 million people lost their homes or access to basic necessities such as food and water. ICMP immediately offered its assistance to all the countries affected. The Thailand Tsunami Victim Identification Process, in association with the authorities in the United Kingdom and Germany, asked ICMP for assistance in the identification of 8,000 victims. Working in partnership with INTERPOL, ICMP was able to identify 900 bodies in Thailand using the DNA profiles of more than 1,700 bone samples provided by the Thai authorities.