Egads, the horror. Death toll over 44,000 and expected to climb. Deaths from sanitation issues might go into tens of thousands. Thanks for copying over the list from Asia board.

Is anyone here familiar with any of the groups. I've done some checking on a few and they seem to very reputable. Over 90% of funds going to programing efforts. But a personal recommendation from a Fodor's friend would go a long way. Would prefer an organization that would send quarterly fund raising letters and enclose a 'gift' of return address labels or Christmas cards.

I just saw the toll changed to 52,000...I noticed UNICEF had a link to donate on their website. I heard that many children have been left without parents or relatives. I think as individuals Americans are extremely generous and I hope we all reflect on the dollars we all spent on the holidays and find it in our hearts to be giving to strangers across the globe. I knew if I came to the Fodors site I would find a list of charities to donate to.

The death toll just announced on local TV here in NYC said over 60,000 dead and the number is expected to go higher.

My heart is also broken about this, so many gone, needlessly, if only the appropriate warnings had been issued. Why does it take a massive tragedy like this BEFORE governments take the appropriate cautions.

My thoughts and prayers along with all of you are with all the people affected.

This is horrible. How many more lives the diseases will claim?

Yesterday I was watching the news, and they showed a 2-year old boy who can't tell his name, and nobody knows what happened to his parents, or even what country he's from. A white boy with blonde hair. I just couldn't watch any more!

Faina, that boy was reunited with his father and grandmother. They are from Sweden, but his mother is still lost.

I imagine it will be some time before a final count is established. I read that in one Indonesian village, they found 10,000 bodies.

In terms of Phuket, I was there a few years ago and found it entirely enjoyable. My wife and I are saddended by the fact that it seems unlikely that a group of about 10 children who peddled drinks on the beach near our hotel would have been able to avoid the water.

Simply amazing that at 10:00 a.m., even with only an hours notice, that the beaches couldn't have been evacuated. On the beaches of Patong, a relatively high hill could have easily been reached by many.

I hope everyone will give what they can...

This is such an utter tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go to all the victims.

Wantsomesun......this is a tragic event. But we cannot put blame on any government for this terrible loss of life. It is mother earth stretching and reminding us how vulnerable we all are. In the Pacific, tsunami detectors have been set, since they are prevelant in the pacific. Tsunamis are not prevelant in the Indian ocean. This is not an event that could have been avoided. Yes, now more measure will be taken as far as evacuations, but please let's stop this need to lay blame. God help them all. Thanks for the charity info. I'm sure fodorites and Americans in general will recognize the need to offer any help we can.

The event itself could not have been prevented. However the loss of life most certainly could have been prevented, at least in most areas that were affected. By all accounts a tsunami warning system should have been in place in the Indian Ocean, and wasn't.

The claim that tsunamis are not prevalent in the Indian Ocean is incorrect. Tsunamis in general are extremely rare events, and the faults that adjoin the Indian Ocean routinely produce some of the largest earthquakes on the planet. As recently as 1945 many hundreds of people were killed by a tsunami in India:

"There's no reason for a single individual to get killed in a tsunami," Dr. Murty said. "The waves are totally predictable. We have travel-time charts covering all of the Indian Ocean. From where this earthquake happened to hit, the travel time for waves to hit the tip of India was four hours. That's enough time for a warning."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/27/sc...27science.html

Some other aid sites

Catholic Agency For Overseas Development - http://www.cafod.org.uk/

Care International - http://www.careinternational.org.uk/

International Red Cross - http://www.ifrc.org/

Medicines Sans Frontieres - http://www.msf.org/

Oxfam - http://www.oxfam.co.uk/

Save the Children - http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sc...jsp?flash=true

Unicef - http://www.unicef.org.uk/

UN world food program - http://www.wfp.org/

World Vision - http://www.worldvision.org.uk/

Christian Aid - http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Islamic Relief - http://www.irw.org/

ttt

amazon.com now has a link on its home page for those who wish to donate through the Red Cross

You can also find a group of organizations through the Network For Good Web site at www.networkforgood.org. You can donate through the Web site to a specific organization and indicate the fund or purpose you which the money to go toward.

Its now up to 77,000. Out of all those organizations listed I'd pick Physicians Without Borders, any Catholic charity and UNICEF.org.

This is one of the most horrendous disasters that I've seen in my lifetime. Bless all affected by this terrible tragedy. I think that Physicians Without Borders would be an excellent choice for a donation.........

This is so sad. Nice to hear that so many groups/people are willing to help. I just heard also that the USS Lincoln, one of our aircraft carriers, is headed there to help with humanitarian efforts.

ttt

I am truly saddened by this disaster. We should continue to post the good list of relief agencies so that each of the boards can use them.

The Americas have long been known for their generosity and the donations are flowing in.

This is a time for people to leave their differences behind and send aid and assistance as best as you can.

God bless .....

Message: Some other aid sites

Catholic Agency For Overseas Development - http://www.cafod.org.uk/

Care International - http://www.careinternational.org.uk/

International Red Cross - http://www.ifrc.org/

Medicines Sans Frontieres - http://www.msf.org/

Oxfam - http://www.oxfam.co.uk/

Save the Children - http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sc...jsp?flash=true

Unicef - http://www.unicef.org.uk/

UN world food program - http://www.wfp.org/

World Vision - http://www.worldvision.org.uk/

Christian Aid - http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Islamic Relief - http://www.irw.org/

The numbers keep rising. It is such a horrible tragedy. It just breaks my heart.
My prayers are with all of them, and I am looking to give financially through Catholic Charities or Red Cross...