Thailand shows the world it can cope alone, Thailand's efficient response left foreign medical teams arriving in the country with nothing to do

 Thailand’s health-care community has won plaudits for its swift response to the tsunami disaster, but with the initial problems of trauma and disease now seemingly under control, it still faces a huge task in dealing with psychosocial stress and the identification of bodies.
Compared with other badly affected nations, Thailand had several advan- tages. Its economy was not only strong enough for the government to decline offers of international aid, but it was also able to make financial contribu- tions to Indonesia and Sri Lanka.