Chris L

We thought it would be useful to pull together some information for making donations to the appeal funds. The details below have been taken from the BBC News Website.

Please remember to tick the Gift Aid option when you donate. UK registered charities can claim back an extra 28p for every pound donated

The UN has warned that supplies are urgently needed to support the survivors and to try and prevent disease which, it says, could double the death toll.

The Disasters Emergency Committee is an umbrella group of UK aid organisations - including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Oxfam - working to provide clean water, food and shelter to thousands.

The United Nations World Food Programme is seeking donations to feed victims of the earthquake.

Medecins Sans Frontieres is sending aid workers to the region, focusing on medical care for survivors and displaced people after the rescue operations.

Oxfam is providing emergency supplies, including water tanks, pumps, taps and temporary toilets for families left homeless by the floods. The charity raised £600,000 in the three days after the disaster, including £200,000 on Tuesday - the most it has raised in one day.

Islamic Relief has also launched an appeal to provide medical supplies, tents and sanitation facilities for those affected.

The United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef is working to meet the "urgent needs of hundreds of thousands of people" affected by the tsunami disaster.

Save the Children has already flown a plane out to Sri Lanka carrying plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, tents to run children's services from, and essentials such as clothing and cooking utensils.

Anti-poverty organisation Care International has already provided food for thousands of affected people in Sri Lanka.

Cafod, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development is working with partners across Asia to provide shelter, food aid and medical assistance, and assessing what further relief is needed.

The Islamic Aid Emergency Relief Fund aims to provide immediate relief and long-term support to people in the affected areas.

Another Islamic charity, Muslim Hands is collecting money and sending volunteers to help in Indonesia and Malaysia.

UK residents can donate via the British Red Cross which has launched an appeal to fund supplies including blankets and cooking utensils.

Medair is providing emergency support to agencies with a long term presence in Sri Lanka and its medical experts are assessing the likelihood of malaria and diarrhoea.

World Vision has also launched an appeal and has already delivered relief goods to thousands.

Christian Aid has already allocated £250,000 from its emergency fund to help the victims of this disaster but says more money is needed.

Christian charity Tearfund and its partners in Sri Lanka and India are helping devastated fishing communities and coastal villages get back on their feet.

Concern is working with local partners to meet the needs of families in the devastated coastal villages of Tamil Nadu, the worst affected state in India.

The International Rescue Committee is providing emergency supplies and materials to "people most affected by the crisis".

The Salvation Army has local teams working in a number of affected areas and is sending a team from its international headquarters on Wednesday evening.

Muslim Aid has already donated £100,000 towards the purchase of food, clothing and medicine in the region but wants to raise more.

All donations can be made via their respective websites.

Donations can also be made via The Post Office or Barclays Bank - there are no charges for using these services.