Devastation sweeps Asia’s shores; believers respond.

Asia (MNN)–An earthquake strong enough to disrupt the earth’s rotation resulted in a tsunami killed thousands.
Reports estimate more than 23-thousand people died in the maelstrom unleashed by the huge waves that swept across countries from Sri Lanka to Thailand.

The tragedy began Sunday morning when a massive 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island in the Indian Ocean.

Tidal waves of up to 20 feet high obliterated the seaside villages in surrounding countries in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Burma and Bangladesh.

Millions of dollars of aid is on its way. International Aid’s Myles Fish says they are among those mobilizing support for the survivors. “Our specialty is in healthcare and so we will be sending all kinds of healthcare-related products. The real danger here is not just the impact of the earthquake. With power systems out and with sanitary systems all broken down, the risk of secondary diseases is really high. We are going to be, just like we have in other disasters, sending all the health product that we can.”

International Aid can provide medical clinics each capable of meeting the basic health care needs of a population of 10,000. The agency has multiple clinics that can be shipped on very short notice. Fish says the supplies should be sent out within the next 24 hours.

The distribution is the ministry, he says, because, “All of our work will be done through local Christian churches that will all be done in the name of Christ. It’s our attempt to demonstrate the love that we have for people in an effort to gain the opportunity to articulate the hope that we have in Christ.”