Earthquake And Tsunami Information And Relief Efforts
Like all citizens of the world, House Democrats offer our deepest condolences to the victims and their families of the earthquake and tsunamis. We grieve for those who have passed and are heartened by the stories of survivors. We stand ready to work quickly to provide the appropriate assistance.
This page provides useful information about the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia, links to organizations that are helping provide relief, and how to obtain information about the welfare and whereabouts of family members in affected areas.
Relief Organizations
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an independent federal government agency, is the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster. USAID's web site contains a list of relief agencies helping with the earthquake and tsunami disaster. Click here to visit the USAID.GOV website for Earthquake and Tsunami Relief.
Information about Family Members and Loved Ones in Affected Countries
Below are resources for obtaining information about the welfare and whereabouts of family members in affected areas of South Asia.
U.S. Citizens
For information about U.S. citizens, family members should contact the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (888) 407-4747 or (202) 647-5225. Please note that these lines are frequently busy during the first few days after a large disaster.
If you are unable to reach the State Department or do not receive necessary information, you should also contact the U.S. Embassy in the affected country. Click here to go to the State Department's list of U.S. Embassies worldwide.
Non-U.S. Citizens
For information about non-U.S. citizens, please contact the country's respective consulate.
You may also visit www.familylinks.icrc.org established by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The site offers family members an opportunity to search for missing relatives’ names. If inquirers cannot locate missing people on the site, they can post their own name or the name of the missing family member. The information is not verified or tracked by either the ICRC or the American Red Cross but is offered by the ICRC as a stand-alone internet tool for inquirers to use on their own.
Below, in countries where available, are special hotlines and instructions:
India
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has set up control rooms with hotline phone numbers in New Delhi to respond to calls regarding the disaster. This information is posted on the Ministry of External Affairs website at: http://meaindia.nic.in/.
Control Room (24-hr)
Ministry of External Affairs,
New Delhi
Phone: 011-91-11-2301-1954, 011-91-2301-2292, 011-91-11-2301-7160
Fax: 011-91-11-2301-3945, 011-91-2301-0889
E-mail: asad@mea.gov.in pasad@mea.gov.in
Thailand
Family members living in the US are encouraged to visit the Royal Thai Embassy website: http://www.thaiembdc.org. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Interior has set up a Coordinating Center for people in Thailand affected by the Tsunamis. The Center will operate 24 hours a day.
Bangkok
There are several phone numbers provided for the Coordinating Centers in Bangkok:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Coordinating Centre
Phone: 011-66-2643-5262 or 011-66-2643-5000 Ext. 5003 or 5502
Fax: 66-2643-5256
Phuket
Phone: 076-220-361
Fax: 076-220-361
Malaysia
Families should contact the government of Malaysia’s 24-hour crisis hotline at the Royal Malaysian Police Headquarters.
Tel: 011-60-3-2262-6555 or fax 011-60-3-2691-0707. Families can also send an email to rmp@rmp.gov.my
Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a 24 Hour Assistance Unit to assist with queries from the Sri Lankan expatriate community and foreign nationals regarding the whereabouts of friends/relatives in Sri Lanka or those presently visiting the country. Two short Emergency Information Forms have been designed to be completed by those seeking information regarding their friends/relatives. One form is for Sri Lankan Nationals and the other for Foreign Nationals. Find the relevant form and other helpful information on the Sri Lanka Embassy website at http://www.slembassyusa.org/.
24 Hour Assistance:
94-11-239-2047 94-11-254-2871 94-11-234-7615
Fax: 94-11-243-7017 94-11-232-1404
Indonesia
Office of the Coordinating Ministry of Social Welfare
Phone/Fax: 011-62-21-345-3676 or 011-62-21-345-9102
Additional Resources
Relatives and loved ones who are struggling to cope with the devastation of the disaster and loss of life can contact their local American Red Cross to speak with a Disaster Mental Health volunteer.
Updated information about the Earthquake and Tsunami
For updated information about the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia and international relief efforts, please visit the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) web site.
