Relief efforts are underway by LCMS World Relief and Human Care and Lutheran World Relief after a devastating Dec. 26 tsunami wiped out coastal towns on the Indian Ocean, killing tens of thousands, with thousands of others missing and hundreds of thousands homeless.

The giant waves resulted from a 9.0 magnitude earthquake — news agencies called it the most powerful in 40 years — centered at more than six miles under the ocean surface and about 100 miles from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Among the countries with coastal areas most affected are Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.

Efforts are underway to respond to the most urgent needs for shelter materials, safe water, emergency food, and medicines. In the coming weeks, the hundreds of thousands of survivors displaced by the tsunamis will continue to need shelter, water, food and medical assistance; additional aid will be necessary to avoid disease that might result from unsafe water and the challenges inherent in dealing with the bodies of the dead.

Orphan Grain Train's warehouse in Bangalore, India, is now delivering humanitarian aid to the survivors of the recent tsunami, which hit India, Sri Lanka, and several other Asian countries. Orphan Grain Train is sending 40-foot-long shipping containers of humanitarian aid to the India warehouse to continue the disaster relief in progress.

It takes six to eight weeks for an ocean-freight shipping container to reach Asia. This will only help meet long-term needs. For short-term response needs, Orphan Grain Train is now taking cash donations to purchase disaster relief supplies from Asian suppliers.

Checks should be made out to "Orphan Grain Train Asian Disaster Relief Fund," P. O. Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702-1466. Donations will be used to purchase food (rice), clean water, and supplies for survivors in the affected areas. Orphan Grain Train's assistance to the countries affected by this tsunami will continue as long as funds for the relief effort are available.

LCMS World Relief and Human Care is working to respond through LCMS expatriate missionaries and other Lutheran church partners in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as through our inter-Lutheran partner, Baltimore-based Lutheran World Relief. There is an urgent and ongoing need for financial assistance.

For additional information, please call LCMS World Relief and Human Care, 1-800-248-1930, ext. 1380. To donate by mail, please send your gift to: 

LCMS World Relief and Human Care
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO  63166-9810
Please make your check payable to LCMS World Relief/Human Care and mark it "Asia Tsunami."

Your may also call their credit card gift line:  1-888-930-4438