Earthquake and Tsunami Information and Relief Efforts

This page provides information about the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia, links to relief organizations and contacts to locate information about the welfare and whereabouts of family members in affected areas.

      "We are witnessing suffering on a great scale as a result of the tsunami,
      but we are also beginning to see great generosity" Jim McDermott

Relief Organizations
      U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an independent federal
      government agency, is the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries
      recovering from disaster. USAID's web site contains a list of relief agencies helping       with the earthquake and tsunami disaster.

      Click here to visit the USAID.GOV website for Earthquake and Tsunami Relief.

      PlanetGuru Foundation Tsunami Relief Fund
      Infomation and relief fund contributions

Information about Family Members and Loved Ones in Affected Countries
      Below are resources for obtaining information about the welfare and whereabouts
      of family members in affected areas of South Asia.

      U.S. Citizens
      For information about U.S. citizens, family members should contact the U.S.
      Department of State Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (888) 407-4747 or
      (202) 647-5225. Please note that these lines are frequently busy during the first few       days after a large disaster.

      If you are unable to reach the State Department or do not receive necessary
      information, you should also contact the U.S. Embassy in the affected country.

      Click here to go to the State Department's list of U.S. Embassies worldwide.

      Non-U.S. Citizens
      For information about non-U.S. citizens, please contact the country's.
      respective consulate.

      You may also visit www.familylinks.icrc.org established by the International
      Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The site offers family members an opportunity       to search for missing relatives’ names. If inquirers cannot locate missing people
      on the site, they can post their own name or the name of the missing family
      member. The information is not verified or tracked by either the ICRC or the
      American Red Cross but is offered by the ICRC as a stand-alone internet tool for
      inquirers to use on their own.

      Below, in countries where available, are special hotlines and instructions:

      India
      The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has set up control rooms with hotline phone
      numbers in New Delhi to respond to calls regarding the disaster. This information
      is posted on the Ministry of External Affairs website at: http://meaindia.nic.in/.
            Control Room (24-hr)
            Ministry of External Affairs,
            New Delhi
            Phone: 011-91-11-2301-1954, 011-91-2301-2292, 011-91-11-2301-7160
            Fax: 011-91-11-2301-3945, 011-91-2301-0889
            E-mail: asad@mea.gov.in pasad@mea.gov.in

      Thailand
      Family members living in the US are encouraged to visit the Royal Thai Embassy
      website: http://www.thaiembdc.org. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and
      the Ministry of Interior has set up a Coordinating Center for people in Thailand
      affected by the Tsunamis. The Center will operate 24 hours a day.

      Bangkok
      There are several phone numbers provided for the Coordinating Centers
      Bangkokin Bangkok:
            Ministry of Foreign Affairs Coordinating Centre
            Phone: 011-66-2643-5262 or 011-66-2643-5000 Ext. 5003 or 5502
            Fax: 66-2643-5256

      Phuket
            Phone: 076-220-361
            Fax: 076-220-361

      Malaysia
      Families should contact the government of Malaysia's 24-hour crisis hotline at the
      Royal Malaysian Police Headquarters.
            Tel: 011-60-3-2262-6555 or fax 011-60-3-2691-0707.
            Families can also send an email to rmp@rmp.gov.my

      Sri Lanka
      The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a 24 Hour Assistance Unit to assist
      with queries from the Sri Lankan expatriate community and foreign nationals
      regarding the whereabouts of friends/relatives in Sri Lanka or those presently
      visiting the country. Two short Emergency Information Forms have been designed
      to be completed by those seeking information regarding their friends/relatives. One
      form is for Sri Lankan Nationals and the other for Foreign Nationals. Find the
      relevant form and other helpful information on the Sri Lanka Embassy website at
      http://www.slembassyusa.org/.
            24 Hour Assistance:
            94-11-239-2047 94-11-254-2871 94-11-234-7615
            Fax: 94-11-243-7017             94-11-232-1404

      Indonesia
            Office of the Coordinating Ministry of Social Welfare
            Phone/Fax: 011-62-21-345-3676 or 011-62-21-345-9102

Additional Resources
      Relatives and loved ones who are struggling to cope with the devastation of the
      disaster and loss of life can contact their local American Red Cross to speak with
      a Disaster Mental Health volunteer.

Updated information about the Earthquake and Tsunami
      For updated information about the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Southeast
      Asia and international relief efforts, please visit the U.S. Agency for International.
      Development (USAID) web site.