Letter from the Editor

The year 2005 has seen an unprecedented number of natural disasters, which have taken a heavy toll on people around the world. We started the year with the aftermath of the tsunami; then followed the numerous and severe hurricanes in the Americas. We are ending the year closer to home with the ongoing effects of the earthquake on 8 October in Pakistan and Kashmir which killed tens of thousands of people and has left hundreds of thousands homeless and in a precarious position with the onset of winter. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have suffered and all those who work to alleviate the suffering. We hope that 2006 will not see so many devastating events across the world