It is now more than 125,000.Chris Low.

>Hello,>>I have been to Thailand in april this year and especially>enjoyed my stay on Ko Phi Phi Island, where most of the>cottages, bars etc are located close to the beach and I still>can't believe that most of the buildings are destroyed and the>people simply got killed. I left Khao Lak feew weeks before the disaster. Many people I met are probably dead.>My condolences to all people and their families in Southasia>or who were affected by this catastrophe.>You said it!All I can do is pray for them and donate as much as I can to help them.http://www.kotiposti.net/syrjamaki/maambanner.jpg

Hi All,Here are the latest news from Indonesia. True, there are now 80,000 plus dead people in the Aceh province alone. No one has yet moved south west of Bandah Aceh to survey the South Western coast of the Sumatera Utara province. Basically all what you see on TV or read in the news papers is what happeend in a radius of 60 miles around Bandah Aceh the provincial capital. The horror further south remains to be surveyed. Planes have flown over the coastal areas showing total destruction of the villages and so sign of life or distress. No sign of fires in the forest around which would indicate that locals are trying to survive inland. This analysis led specialists to think that there could be an additional 20,000 to 40,000 people missing.Some positive developments:1. the central government and the GAM separatist group have agreed to a cease fire. Not only there will be no further fight but all restrictions imposed by the martial law have been lifted. There is a very good chance, if the government plays his cards right, that the separatist groups will loose momentum among the population.2. There is an unprecedented movement of all Indonesians to contribute in kind, money, or physically to the relief efforts. Millions of dollars have been collected sofar, Students, jobless, and specialists of all kinds offer to go to Aceh and contribute to the efforts. Tons of rice, cooking oil, sugar and other essential commodities have piled up at all major collecting points throughout the country.3. Army and police a total force of 45,000 has been deployed or re-assigned to the devastated region to be the spearhead of the relief efforts.4. Food, supplies, water, medicines, heavy equipment etc.. is already in the region in large quantities and more is comning every hour. There is no shortage of supply except for fresh water and gasoline.5. Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, England, France have already dispatched medical teams to Bandah Aceh.On the negative side:1.The two regional airports Bandah Aceh and Medan as well as the two military landing strips are totally congested. Not equipped for quick rotations, storage facilities limited, very few qualified handling personel. 2. Outside of the provincial capital communications and transportation is still in total chaos. Goods available in large quantities at the airports cannot be distributed. Roads cannot be used, vehicles are not available, gasoline is rarely available. Airdrops is the only way of distribution right now.3. Burial of the thousands and thousands of corpses still to be seen everywhere is the major issue. It is said that it will take another 4 days to bury all corpses. 4. Fresh clean water is the issue number one today. a US Navy ship is apparantly enroute to Bandah Aceh with on-board facilities to produce large quantities of fresh water from sea water. This is the danger as of today.5. Access to the coastal part of the Sumatera Utara province is still impossible by road. It is estimated that penetration in that region can be made at a path of 15 to 20 miles a day only, due to the roads and bridges conditions.In conclusion, thanks to the tremendous efforts of the international community, the Indonesian government and the Indonesian population there is a great deal of relief which has been put in place and is still pouring in that region. I am not affiliated with any government or any non government organization. These comments are my personal appreciation of the situation as a long time resident in Indonesia and after having visited some of the facilities there.Thanks!Michael

Yeah red cross is getting money in record speed. Many one got touched by this. 5 millions directly affected and over 150 000 people dead already :(