I have just seen my first news reports on the disaster which has happened.

The dead figures are just impossible to comprehend. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to know that half of the town has been killed, or that one million are now homeless in just Sri Lanka alone. These stats are from the BBC website.

Sri Lanka: 18,706 dead

Indonesia: 27,174 dead

India: 4,371 dead

Thailand: 1,516 dead

Maldives: 52 dead

Malaysia: 44 dead

Burma: 30 dead

Bangladesh: 2 dead

Somalia: 100 dead

Kenya: 1 dead

Seychelles: 3 dead

Tanzania: 10 dead

Mass graves are being dug out of necessity to kerb disease. Muslims, Hindus and Christians are pushing aside their traditions and customs in favour of mass graves forte safety of the living.

I feel hopeless and want to do more than ‘just pray’ but prayer is what is needed most. The following agencies, though, are offering aid if you wish to support them:

Cafod

Care International

International Federation of the Red Cross

Oxfam

Save The Children

Unicef

World Vision

At most of these sites you can donate online if you would like to.

The photo shows flip flops of those that were enjoying the beach before the tsunami hit. You can find help praying with pictures here.

You can also read local updates from Messy Christian.