What should you do first?

Please visit the International Victim Coordination Center located nearest you.

At the Center they have lists of patients admitted to all of the hospitals in affected areas. You can also review lists of victims that did not suffer serious injuries and were relocated to other hotels and resorts in unaffected areas.

If the person that you are looking for is not listed with the hospital records and relocated lists you should fill out a "Missing Persons Information" sheet. These sheets give you the opportunity to list valuable information for the forensic teams.

What should I do after I visit the International Victim Coordination Center?

Immediately visit your Embassy staff.

Once you have visited the Embassy staff you should visit a DNA collection center (contact details below) and give samples from either the missing relative/friend or yourself if you are a blood relative - it is very important that you retain some personal items of the missing relative or friend as you will be required to provide these for more DNA testing in your home country.

If your relative or friend is missing you may feel the need to search and find the body. However, please know that the locations where the bodies are currently being held are closed due to health risks. The conditions are extremely dangerous and have the potential to a spread of Cholera, Typhoid Liver Inflammation, and other contagious diseases.

Also, we are advised by the International Forensic teams that bodies will not be released to families or relatives without appropriate DNA Interpol standard (FDI) testing and dental record checks which must be submitted through the proper channels of your Government in your home country.

Given the above we highly recommend that you return to your home country to help continue the identification process.

Returning home, what should you do next?

Once you return to your home country you will need to make contact with your appropriate Government office. They should be in a position to advise you of the next steps and where they are collecting information and DNA samples etc.

To help with the identification you will be asked to provide the following for your relative or friend:
**   Samples like: toothbrush, underwear, hair, shaver etc.
**   Dental and medical records - particularly if they have had an operation
**   Doctor or Dentist contact information.
**   Photographs or information about jewelry that you know they were wearing.

You should collect these items as soon as possible and put them in individual sealed plastic bags.

For information - the Forensic teams are taking photos of all the victims; the focus will be on identifiable items like medical operations and jewelry to help identification. They are also taking DNA samples and dental records.

If you are a relative of a missing person they would also highly recommend that you connect with some counseling support in your home country.

If you are family or a close friend of a missing person it is recommend that you seek counseling support, in addition you can also help the relatives by suggesting that they seek some help.

Won't you please, be an Angel of Hope, and help the Asian tsunami victims?

International aid organizations are accepting donations to help victims of the powerful
earthquake and resulting tsunamis that caused widespread destruction in parts of
South Asia and East Africa. The groups include:

AmeriCares,  Action Against Hunger,  ADRA International,  Air Serv International,  American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc.,  American Jewish World Service,  American Red Cross,  ARMDI, Israeli Red Cross,  Association for India's Development,  Baptist World Aid,  B'nai B'rith International,  Brother's Brother Foundation,  CARE,  Catholic Relief Services,  Christian Children's Fund,  Christian Reformed World Relief Committee,  Church World Service,  Concern Worldwide,  Direct Relief International,  Doctors Without Borders,  Episcopal Relief and Development,  Food for the Hungry, Inc.,  International Aid,  International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,  International Medical Corps,  International Orthodox Christian Charities,  International Relief Teams,  International Rescue Committee,  Islamic Relief Worldwide,  Latter-Day Saint Charities,  Lutheran World Relief,  MAP International,  Mercy Corps,  Network for Good,  Northwest Medical Teams,  Operation Blessing International,  Operation USA,  Oxfam America,  Plan USA,  Project Concern International,  Project HOPE,  Relief International,  Salvation Army,  SAWSO (Salvation Army World Service Office),  Save the Children USA,  Stop Hunger Now,  UNICEF,  U.N. World Food Programme,  USAID,  World Emergency Relief,  World Concern,  World Relief,  World Vision

If you have written poetry or stroies concerning the Tsunami, we will gladly publish them on this site. Send your submissions to Asian Tsunami Memorial - 2004 c/o SMHAI.

 

Always in our hearts.Never to be forgotten.
Their spirits will light our way and guide us through each day.

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