The unimaginable disaster in Asia on December 26th 2004 has resulted in the largest disaster relief response in the history of the world.

"International compassion has never been so high," said Mr. Jan Egeland, the UN undersecretary-general in charge of emergency relief.

In one week, $2 billion from 44 nations and the World Bank has now been pledged to meet the needs of 5 million survivors in 11 countries.

That's $400 per person.

Japan's Pledge

The highest single donation to date is a half billion dollar pledge from Japan.

"Japan will extend to affected countries and international organizations concerned $500 million in grant money as emergency assistance to cope with the damage," the embassy said, while adding that the Japanese emergency medical team had already commenced operations in Aceh.

America's Assistance

In his weekly radio address, President Bush said yesterday, "Americans are a compassionate people and we are already hard at work helping those nations meet these challenges.

Last week, President Bush offered an initial $35 million to the victims of the earthquake and tsunamis.

After further assessing the damage and the needs in Asia, the U.S. government has now increased this amount to $350 million.

Already, $15 million is in the hands of relief organizations in the affected countries.

The USS Abraham Lincoln war ship is already docked near Banda Aceh and assisting relief efforts through its several helicopters.

US Navy Member Delivers H20

The United States is also sending up to 1,500 marines to help Sri Lanka's tsunami relief efforts, an official said.

Meanwhile, everywhere you turn, the grocery store, at church, even online through retailers with millions of customers like Amazon, an effort is afront to reach out to the 12.26 tsunami victims and their families. Upon my first post about the tragedy, Amazon's customers had donated $900,000. Just days later, that amount has grown to over $12.6 million. In the six hours it took to research and write this story, Amazon raised over $300,000. 100% of these individual contributions will go straight to the American Red Cross.

Secretary of State Colin Powell and Governor Jeb Bush, who has extensive experience in the state of Florida with relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following natural disasters are leading America's delegation. The delegation will meet with regional leaders and international organizations to assess what additional aid can be provided by the United States to the tsunami-stricken area.

On Thursday, Indonesia's capital Jakarta will host an international ASEAN tsunami crisis meeting.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan predicts reconstruction could take five to ten years.

U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell and Jeb Bush, the Governor of Florida, have already left Washington to take part in the Jakarta disaster relief summit.

Powell and Bush will report back to President Bush what additional aid the U.S. should bring to the current efforts.

The summit will include Secretary Powell, Governor Bush, USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios, along with UN Secretary General Annan, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

France, meanwhile, says it will coordinate all European relief efforts.

A donors’ pledging conference is scheduled for January 11th in Geneva.

Sweden Gives Up New Year's Fireworks Celebration: Donates Money Instead

New Year's celebrations in much of the world were muted or transformed into fund-raisers on Friday night.

A country that lives in more darkness than light from the beginning of November to February relishes in the once a year celebration on December 31st.

In America, it is commonplace to hear of people celebrating the new year in a different time zone then their own in order to get a good night's sleep. Not Swedes! They celebrate New Year's in a big way with fireworks in every city and in every household.

"New Year's fireworks are associated with festivities and happiness," said Gunilla Andreasson, editor of Barometern-OT, a newspaper that canceled its annual fireworks in the Swedish cities of Kalmar and Oskarshamn. "So many people in Sweden and around the world have been struck by this catastrophe."

Unlike Americans, Swedes are permitted to set off fireworks in the privacy of their own home.

This year, however, Sweden from city-to-city, home-to-home, gave up that celebration of light.

Instead they turned on their televisions to one of four Swedish TV channels and pledged 200 million kronor. 200 million kronor, which is equivalent to over $50 million, was raised in one night.

As of today, Swedes have given 500 million kronor ($75 million) to the relief effort, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson said.

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson

"Never has it been so difficult to welcome a new year. A year that for many in our country will be the most difficult ever," Persson said in a New Year's Eve speech.

The Foreign Ministry's web site had this additional message from Persson:

This will be the most dramatic catastrophe in our history.

Many, many Swedes will lose close friends, relatives and acquaintances, and it will hurt for a very long time.

Previously, the biggest disaster in Sweden in modern times was ten years ago, when just over 500 Swedes perished in the Estonia ferry disaster in the Baltic Sea.

20,000 Swedes were on holiday in Thailand the day after Christmas. Most of them were located precisely where the wave hit. Many of them were staying at the Khao Lak resort.

Only three days ago, 1,500 people were missing.

Now, a total of 3,559 Swedes are missing after data from travel companies who sold tickets to independent travelers were processed, said Swedish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Klaes Jernaeus in a telephone interview yesterday from Stockholm.

To put this into perspective, Sweden has a population of 9 million people. This would be equivalent to the U.S. losing 110,000 citizens.

Sweden is the most-affected nation from outside the disaster area.

Yesterday, the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet said sixty Swedish children have so far returned from Thailand without their parents.

Another paper published pictures of 120 missing Swedes - half of them children.

Swedish Flag at Half Mast in Stockholm

Yesterday, the European country that has suffered the biggest death toll in the disaster flew flags across the country at half-mast as a sign of national mourning while churches focused their New Year's day sermons on the disaster.

For all Nordic nations, New Year's eve was more an evening of mourning and giving than celebration.

While Sweden gave up their annual fireworks fanfare on Friday night in order to put the millions of Kronor toward the current relief efforts, Finland and Norway joined Sweden in making the first day of the new year a day of mourning.

Three Minutes of Silence on January 5th

This Wednesday, several countries plan to honor the dead with three minutes of silence.

The plan was first proposed on Friday by the Netherlands, which holds the rotating presidency of the 25-nation European Union.

The Netherlands will be joined by Sweden, Finland, Norway and the other European countries who have lost Norwegians, Finns, Danes, Icelanders, Italians, Germans and all those victims in Asia affected by the earthquake and tsunamis.

The three minutes of silence will take place at noon Britain time, while flags will be flown at half mast.

The Dutch government asked the EU bloc's 25 member countries to take the time to honor victims of the catastrophe.

So far only five Dutch citizens have been confirmed dead but fears about the fate of 30 others missing in regions hit by the tsunami are growing.

Nordic Victims

Sweden: 60 dead, 3,559 missing
Norway: 21 dead, 462 missing
Finland: 14 dead, 194 missing
Denmark: 7 dead, 454 missing
Iceland: 11 missing

Source: Reuters Tally, 1/1/05

Among other European nations, there are an estimated 1,000 missing from Germany, 900 from Norway and 600 from Italy.

Thai authorities say at least 2,400 foreign tourists were killed on the country's beaches.

Last Christmas, three of our closest friends spent their holidays in Thailand - on the very beaches that have now been wiped away.

Thank God Magnus, Annika and Peter, you chose last Christmas rather than this one!

Numbers Affected

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 3 and 5 million people throughout the affected region are lacking basic survival requirements.

Putting A Face on The Tsunami Victims

According to the latest estimates from the U.N. and host country governments, approximately 500,000 people are displaced in Indonesia, more than 889,175 are displaced in Sri Lanka, 3.5 million people are affected in India, and more than 10,000 are injured in Thailand.

In addition, between 15,000 and 30,000 may be affected in Somalia, 12,000 are displaced in Malaysia, and approximately 12,000 are displaced and 300,000 affected in the Maldives.

The European Union (EU)

The EU, which has committed $31.3 million in aid to tsunami victims, said it would allocate $13 million to Indonesia.

Norway

Norway has allocated 100 million kronor ($16 million).

Finland

Finland has pledged 2.5 million euros ($3.4 million).

Britain's Benevolence

Britain's government has taken a lead in pledging relief funds worth about $96 million -- up from its earlier offer of $67 million.

"London will also send 10 emergency health kits meant for 100,000 people for three months," the British Embassy said in a press release on Saturday.

Meanwhile, private citizens have raised a staggering $85 million in charitable donations since Tuesday.

New Year's Candle Vigil in Phuket

In addition, British music stars plan to unite for a charity single in hopes of raising more than two million pounds ($3.8 million) for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, a BBC report said on Saturday.

British music stars, Cliff Richard, Boy George and opera singer Russell Watson will all sing on the song, entitled "Grief Never Grows Old", according to the report.

Former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating may also take part, if a studio can be found close to where he is currently located in Switzerland.

Other music stars who are being approached include the surviving members of the Bee Gees, jazz sensation Jamie Cullum, Chris Rea and Olivia Newton-John.

Radio DJ Mike Read had written the song before the tragedy on December 26th, but thought it was too gloomy to release.

But now he plans to have it recorded by a collective of pop stars under the name One World Project and give all the funds raised by the record to the tsunami victims.

Read said:

I was totally shocked at the enormity and suddenness of the disaster and in tears on seeing the orphaned children wandering aimlessly in search of their parents.

The song is a slow ballad and will work with around 10 singers, rather than a "sing along" like the Band Aid 20 single raising money for famine relief in Africa.

It's a natural home for it because people kept saying to me, 'it's such a good song', but it's such a sad song.

The backing track has already been recorded, and organizers hope it can be finished within the next week to get it into record stores as quickly as possible.

Cliff Richard has already recorded his vocal part in Barbados, while Boy George recorded his in New York.

The official British toll from the tsunami is 34.

Canada's Charitable Giving

Canada has raised $66 million.

On Sunday, a 29-ton shipment of emergency humanitarian supplies arrived in Jakarta and would be handed over to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) for distribution in Aceh and North Sumatra, the Canadian Embassy said in a press release.

China's Current Contributions

China has promised a politically significant $60.5 million.

China is the biggest donor after Japan, the United States, Britain and Sweden.

The Chinese Embassy in Jakarta has already donated goods worth $600,000 to Indonesia.

Chinese companies in Indonesia have also donated $200,000 to Indonesian tsunami victims.

Taiwan

Today, Taiwan pledged $50 million, a significant increase from the $5 million it pledged last week, as officials urged the public to donate money for survivors.

Saudi Arabia

Last week, Saudi Arabia's embassy announced it would donate $10 million to tsunami-affected countries, including $2 million to Indonesia.

India

India, also a victim of the tsunami disaster, has sent a hospital ship INS Nirupak and corvette INS Khukri, along with $1 million worth emergency relief supplies to Aceh, the Indian Embassy said in a press release.

INS Nirupak will provide onboard in-patient and out-patient medical services for disaster victims in Aceh.

An Australian Solidier Distributes Drinking Water in Aceh Province

Australia's Alms

Sydney was the first major city to welcome the new year.

More than one million people watched the world-famous fireworks shows in the harbor.

A minute's silence was held before the first of the two shows where the public donated 900,000 Australian dollars ($697,000 U.S. dollars, 516,000 euros).

Sydney's fireworks shows alone generated more than $850,000 for the disaster appeal.

Two planes have been dispatched with water purification equipment, drinking water and other emergency supplies. In addition, millions of dollars are going to UN Agencies, the Red Cross and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs).

African Union

The African Union announced that it would donate $100,000 to tsunami victims in Asia.

4 Year-old Hungry Indian Boy -- Photo Credit: Reuters' Altaf Hussain

Taipei, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Maldives & Sri Lanka

The Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Maldives and Sri Lanka have each handed over $100,000 in humanitarian aid.

Russia's Relief

Beslan, a town in Russia that became a major victim of terrorism last year, has donated one million rubles ($37,000) to tsunami victims, RIA Novosti agency reported.

The Russian government will soon announce its assistance to tsunami victims.

Austria

Austria has chartered an aircraft to Indonesia with 32 tons of emergency goods.

Belgium

Beligum has donated $120,000 worth of agricultural relief needs to fisher and farmer groups in South East Asia. An additional $80,000 worth of relief intervention has gone to the Maldives.

Chile

Chile has sent medical doctors, epidemiologists and rescue experts to Indonesia.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has sent nearly $1 million worth of drinking water, sanitation facilities and drugs to the affected areas in the region, including North Sumatra and Sri Lanka.

Denmark

Denmark has sent $125,000 to Thailand, the Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Indonesia ($25,000 each) through OCHA. Through UN Agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross, $55 million will go to assist the flood victims in SE Asia.

Italy

Over $1 million of cash and in-kind supplies have been donated by Italy to Sri Lanka.

On New Year's eve, Italian cities including Bologna, Turin and Naples reduced the scale of their official year-end celebrations.

With 700 Italians still reported missing, city authorities in Rome said Friday night that fireworks displays had been canceled.

"This cannot be a New Year's party like all the others," said Rome's mayor, Walter Veltroni.

On January 1st, Pope John Paul II spoke to thousands from the Vatican City at St. Peter's Square in Rome.

The eighty-four year-old pope said:

This sort of human solidarity, along with the grace of God, gives hope for better days to come in the year that begins today.

Villagers Near Banda Aceh Catch Aid From US Navy Helicopter

Other countries and concerns that are contributing cash and in-kind supplies include:

Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Islamic Relief, Israel, The Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Libya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, OXFAM, Pakistan, The Phillippines, Portugal, Qatra, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and World Vision. (Source: ReliefWeb.Int)

Total Current Losses

The official toll from the disaster has passed 120,000, according to government figures from the affected countries.

United Nations emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland said that 150,000 had died, making it the deadliest natural disaster since the 1976 Tangshan, China, earthquake that killed more than 250,000.

India and Thailand suffered thousands of deaths from the waves, which swamped the Maldives and killed people as far away as Somalia and Tanzania, on Africa's east coast.

Sri Lanka has reported more than 28,800 deaths.

Indonesia was the worst-hit country, with 94,081 people reported dead as of January 2nd.

On one positive note, the country reported a man was discovered alive late Sunday. The 24-year-old Indonesian fisherman, identified as Tengku Sofyan, was found trapped under his boat and severely dehydrated, officials said. His boat was tossed onto the beach at Lampulo and he was trapped for a week without any food or water. Mr. Sofyan was the first tsunami survivor found in three days.

After visiting the region this past week, Sweden's foreign minister, Laila Freivalds, said the death toll was likely to rise to 200,000.

$2 billion in honor of 200,000 people. $2 billion and 7 billion prayers.

Inspire & Be Inspired (R).

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "reaching beyond our comfort zone" living.

~ Jennifer Carolyn King

P.S. On New Year's Day, President Bush, during his radio address, encouraged Americans interested in donating to these efforts to do so online by accessing the USA FreedomCorps web site at:

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