Shocking news comes from Asia as the world completes its Christmas celebrations. On the morning of the 26th December, the lives of more than 20,000 people across Asia were claimed after one of the most powerful earthquakes hit the region in 40 years.

The 8.9 magnitude earthquake triggered massive tidal waves that slammed into coastlines in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh. Thousands of people are still missing and tens of thousands of people have been displaced.

Immediately after the earthquake, religious leaders and aid agencies across the world expressed sympathy to the victims and have shown their willingness to unite together to offer emergency assistance.

Pope John Paul II appealed for swift international aid to help the thousands of victims of the earthquake during his customary Sunday noon appearance from St. Peter's Square.

The Pope prayed for the victims, "The Christmas holiday has been saddened by the news that comes from South-east Asia about the powerful earthquake which struck Indonesia, with consequences in other countries, including Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and the Maldives."

"We hope that the international community acts to bring relief to the stricken populations," the pontiff said.

Members of the global alliance, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International in south and south east Asia are working hard to respond to the needs of survivors of Sunday’s catastrophic disaster.

In Sri Lanka, where more than 5,800 people are said to have died, the National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka (NCCSL) reported that two truck-loads of essential food items and water will leave today for Muttur in Trincomalee and the other to Thirukovil in Batticaloa, two of the worst hit areas.

Other relief operations by NCCSL and its local church members include transporting people displaced by the deluge to safe areas. NCCSL is a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International.

The churches in Sri Lanka have continued to play an important role in providing emergency support. NCCSL emergency officer S.K. Xavier reports, "Many people, on their own, have collected cooked food parcels to be distributed to those who have taken shelter in the Vihares (Buddhist temples), Kovils (Hindu temples), mosques and church halls. Some of them house families in thousands."

"Most of the year-end functions arranged by churches have been cancelled, with money collected being channeled to relief work," says Xavier. "Right now, all the churches have got their own teams helping with relief work."

"The situation continues to be frightening," Xavier predicts the situation could even deteriorate further, "The security forces are dispatched in the affected areas to control the people, not allowing them to return to the risk areas, such as the shores. Though it was forecast that the monsoon rains have ceased, the weather has changed, and as a result, there is rain."

In India, the official death toll so far is more than 4,000 people. Members of ACT International Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) have been in touch with the ACT Coordinating Office (CO) in Geneva. They will be working together with ACT member United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) to assess people’s needs in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu - two of the hardest hit areas.

CASA reports that 12 teams have been deployed, both assisting and assessing needs of people in the coastal areas. Four strategic operational points are being set up to assist some 50,000 families.

CASA has also started an emergency feeding program, as many people have sought sanctuary in churches and schools. Nine of CASA’s member churches are already engaged in relief work following the disaster. Initial plans are that the emergency feeding programs will last three to five days.

CASA reported to UK-based ACT member Christian Aid that cyclone shelters built during the 90s have provided shelter to thousands of people who fled the tidal waves.

In Indonesia, the province of Aceh on Sumatra’s northern-most tip near the epicentre of the under-sea quake, is reported to have been hit the worst. More than 4,400 people are believed to have died. ACT members Yayasan Tanggul Benkana (YTB), Yakkum Emergency Unit/CD Bethesda (YEU) and Church World Service (CWS) are coordinating their response to the emergency.

CWS will conduct a rapid assessment mission to Aceh this week, working with a team from YEU. YEU will also be sending an assessment team to North Sumatra.

Several members of the ACT alliance in Europe have already contacted the ACT CO, pledging financial support to the ACT members in the region.

In Brussels, European Union Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Luis Michel said it was important to deliver aid "in those vital hours and days immediately after the disaster." The 25-nation EU will deliver US $4 million in emergency aid as a start.

"For all the huge advances in the control of our lives through science and technology, an earthquake on this scale is truly humbling as well as profoundly tragic," said British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

British consular officials were called from their vacations and aid efforts were being organised. The first flight carrying British Government assistance for victims of the tidal waves in Asia left the UK earlier today.

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said the Government had already given £400,000 through the EU to the first Red Cross appeal to help survivors, and was providing about £50,000 to the World Health Organisation to prevent outbreaks of disease.

In Austria, relief officials and charities such as Caritas and Volkshilfe issued a broad and urgent appeal for cash donations.

"Preparations for relief are running at the highest levels," said Franz-Karl Prueller, head of Caritas’ Austria operation. "Once people are safe, they must be provided with meals, blankets and a roof over their heads."