December 30, 2004

Tsunami: Death Toll Hits 100,000

The tsunami death toll in southeast Asia has topped 100,000. Scott Ott at ScrappleFace comments, "with the death toll now placed above 100,000, please join millions of Americans in showing the love of Christ to the survivors."

Donations to the American Red Cross via Amazon.com for tsunami disaster relief just topped $4 million (at 8:04 central time), with 67,290 individual donors having donated $4,000,153.11, an average of $59.44 per donor. Simply amazing. If you wish to help and haven't done so yet, consider donating either to the Red Cross via via Amazon or to World Vision - or give to the relief efforts of reputable religious organizations. And watch out for the inevitable Nigerian tsunami relief email scams.

UPDATE: Here are some more organizations to which you can donate for tsunami relief:

The Southern Baptist Convention is accepting financial gifts for aid through the SBC's International Missions Board disaster relief fund. Send gifts designated "Asia Earthquake Disaster Relief" to the International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230 (to give online, click here.) All funds given will go to relief efforts; none will be used for administrative costs.

Samaritan's Purse is accepting tsunami relief donations online here.

If you know of other reputable Christian organizations collecting donations for tsunami disaster relief, please send me the link.