Zoo Station

Apart from simply affecting the numbers, classifying tsunami victims as missing or dead is affecting the survivors - at least in India and especially Andaman. Apparently, monetary aid is given to victims' families only if the person is dead (in other words if the body has been found). Civil rights groups have begun to pressure the government to declare missing people dead in the next few days and awareness of this issue will only help their case. Of course, there would becases of people falsely reporting their family members missing - but a genuine victim not getting aid is only worse. Further, in a small island one could simply use peer pressure and social monitoring to make sure such cases are reduced.

*UPDATE*: According to the the Australian, common law require(s) a person to be missing for seven years before he or she could be declared dead.