The earthquake Sunday had touched off a series of tsunamis which triggered waves crashing into nine countries, as far as Africa. Rescuers have so far counted the death toll to 55,000.
Amongst the worst affected areas included Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and India. In these places, there was a general lack in clean water, tents, food, clothes, medicines, and hospitals are being overrun. Local officials claimed if relief work continues to be bogged down, disease will soon become a major problem in the next few days. According to AP sources, survivors have been forced to drink water contaminated by dead rotting corpses floating in the water.
The Salvation Army since then has called into services all of its partner agencies in Asia to aid countries hit by the massive earthquake and devastating waves.
The Emergency Services Department in the International Headquarter of the Salvation Army is currently working forthe relief effort. They have been offering food and accommodation to the survivors. The Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Command has offered HK$500,000 from their emergency funds to support the affected countries. Currently, the Salvation Army is sending 15,000 pieces of clothes and 4,000 torches to southern Asia.
The staff of the Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Command is scheduled to arrive in Colombo. of Sri Lanka to help relief work. The transportation cost of the Hong Kong emergency services is fully sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways. More aid will be sent out to more countries in the coming days.
Colonel Edward Daniel said in Colombo, "We have sent staff with initial relief of food and water to the Southern costal regions. And our Emergency Center will require all Salvationists in southern Asia to provide homeless food, clothes, and counseling. "They will try their best to deal with demand of survivors."
