Splinters

By now you will have all heard the news about the earthquake just off Indonesia which has caused huge tsunamis to devastate the coasts of Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Burma. Current estimates put the death toll at 11000 and it's due to rise dramatically. Thousands are missing and the infrastructure in most of the places which have been hit by the tsunamis has simply been washed away. Regular readers of splinters will know that I (Chris, that is, not Steve) currently live in Thailand where I work as a scuba diving instructor. This, then, is a disaster that has hit literally close to home for me. I have dive instructor friends who work on the islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta who I currently cannot reach - and I have friends who may have been working on a dive liveaboard boat when the tsunami hit. CNN says that over a hundred scuba divers who were in the water when the tsunami hit are missing. At the moment I simply don't know what's happened to them because communications are completely shattered.

My own personal anxieties are obviously nothing compared to the absolute devastation that has been wrought on these countries. It would make a huge difference if every reader of splinters could manage to donate 10 pounds to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. Or less, or more. Or to any charity that is sponsoring relief in these areas. Anything would be good. I can only really speak from the little I know about Thailand, but many people effected by the tsunamis will have lost not only members of their family, but also their entire homes and livelihoods, as well as having no funds to afford medical aid. If you can give anything, please do so.