I am still numb and shocked by the sheer extent of the human disaster in South East Asia. The news keeps getting worse and worse. Today it is 85,000 dead across eight countries with the toll rising hourly. It is reported that possibly half the victims will be children. It shows us how tenuous and fragile our hold on life is and also what an incredible and powerful force mother nature can be.

The news services here have been saturated with the coverage. It is estimated that at this time of the year, about 30,000 Swedes are in these areas escaping the harsh northern winter. So far, 3,500 are still unaccounted for - and those are the ones booked through the charter tours. Who knows how many others are there travelling on their own arrangements.

For those looking for lost relatives and friends in Thailand, there are some hospital lists and photos available on-line as well. Phuket Hospital and Phuket Inter-Hospital. The BBC Site also has a search form and links to finding lost families in all the countries.

There have been so many heart-rending headlines about parents watching as their children were swept away, mothers refusing to let go of their dead children, newly-weds on their honeymoon being separated and one of them lost... And that is still just the rich tourists' stories. Then there are the millions of already poverty striken people who have lost their entire families, homes and livelihoods, who don't have a comfortable home to come to back to in the west, but who have to start over from the very ground where their home used to be - and they don't have anything to start over with. Their stories have yet to be told.

Please, please think about giving to one of the aid organisations who are helping out in the area. There are many to choose from and they seem to be co-ordinating their efforts. I know that people are cynical these days about donating to organisations where the money may go to "overheads" rather than the people affected. If that is a concern, you can refer to Overhead costs for international refief organisations for a guide to overheads for big US and international charities. And also for those in the States, you can use the site at Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to make sure it gets used where it is needed most.

In Sweden, Radiohjälpen has a postgiro account set up. The number is 90 19 50-6 - mark it Asien.

Svenska Röda Korset also has a postgiro account and that number is 90 08 00-4. Mark it Flodvågornas offer

Unicef Sverige pg 90 20 01-7 marked Katastrofen i Asien

Save the Children, Sweden (Rädda Barnen) pg 90 20 03-3 marked Jordbävningen i Asien

Plan has an online donation service. My step-daughter does volunteer work for this organisation and it is a very reputable one. Their pg number is 90 07 31-1

Svenska Kyrkan also is running an aid campaign. pg 90 02 56-9

Salvation Army (Frälsningsarmén) pg 90 04 80-5 mark it Katastrofhjälp

The Catholic Church help organisation Caritas Sverige pg 90 04 90-4 marked Katastrofen i Sydasien

SOS-Barnbyar pg 90 02 29-6

Diakonia who works in these areas all of the time also is collecting for this crisis at pg 90 33 04-4 marked Sydostasien

Läkare utan gränser, the Swedish arm of Medicine without Frontiers pg number is 90 06 03-2

The afternoon newspaper, Expressen also has an list of organisations where you can donate or help out.

There are others internationally as well:

International Red Cross

UNICEF (click Make a Donation and choose your country.

Care International (click on your country). Note that Care Australia has launched an earthquake appeal

Oxfam is also taking donations in many currencies.

Save the Children Fund

Doctors Without Borders

Sustainable Development and Ecological Development Society

Relief Web (Through United Nations in Sri Lanka)

Indian Prime Minister's Relief Fund

Lonely Planet has also set up donation buttons, pages for those seeking missing persons and help resources.

Within Australia, Ellie in Sydney has a list of Australian sites accepting donations. And AusAid has a very comprehensive and Australian focused list of ways you can help.

World Vision

A local Malaysian blogger, Mack Zulkifli has set up Stand Up For Penang relief appeal and is asking people to help out in Malaysia.

There is also a list of sites worldwide at Help Tsunami Victims that offer online donation services.

Maybe there are more in the area YOU live in.

There is even a Southeast Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog with a lot of aid organisations, important phone numbers and helpful links and is being continually updated. This was set up by the local residents in the stricken area.

People who want to volunteer to help in the actual area can find links at the SEA-EAT Blog above, or contact places like Aidboston, Australian Volunteers or India Times.

Also the main page and forums at The Command Post has a list of aid organisations who need both money and volunteers.

There is also a first hand account by an accredited AP journalist of aid distribution problems in Sri Lanka posted by Dhruhini. Make sure you donate to a reputable help organisation. It pains me to say this, but in times of strife like this, it can bring out the very best and very worst in human nature.

I know you are all thinking that you have no money left after the Christmas period. I was thinking the same thing, then felt ashamed as I was sitting in my warm, comfortable apartment, sleeping in a cosy bed, with plenty of food in the cupboards and most importantly my family here with me. My life is rich.