Mineola,NY - The tragic tsunami that recently devastated Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma and several other Asian nations could be the costliest disaster in history. Millions of survivors face life without their family, their homes and their villages- all of which were flooded or washed away. Surviving victims still face a perilous future because of polluted drinking water, a lack of sanitation and no health services.

A disaster of this magnitude moves thousands to give generous donations to help in the relief process, but Legislator Scannell warns people to give only to approved relief organizations. When giving to a national organization like the American Red Cross, the donor should state their intent of the donation. If you are donating with a check, write the intent of the donation on the check, or if by phone, tell the operator, Scannell explained.

"I encourage residents who want to help to give cash donations," Scannell said. "Giving money, as opposed to food or other supplies, allows these groups to buy supplies near the affected area, which reduces shipping costs and stimulates the local economy."

The following is a list of humanitarian aid organizations accepting donations to help the surviving victims of the earthquake and tsunamis that tore across the Southeast Asia:

AmeriCares 800-486-HELP www.americares.org	Doctors Without Borders PO Box 1856 Merrifield, VA 22116-8056 888-392-0392
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee India Earthquake Relief 711 Third Avenue, 10th flr. New York, NY 10017 www.jdc.org	Salvation Army World Service Office 615 Slater Avenue Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-5528 www.salvationarmy.org
American Red Cross P.O. Box 37243 Washington D.C 20013	United Methodist Committee on relief 475 Riverside Drive, Rm. 330 New York, NY 10115
Association for India's Development (AID) PO Box 149 College Park, MD 20741	U.S Fund for Unicef 333 E. 38th Street New York, NY 10016 www.unicefusa.org
Make checks payable To "earthquake relief fund"
Concern Worldwide 104 E. 40th Street Rm. 903 New York, NY 10016 www.concernusa.org	United Way International 701 N. Fairfax St. Alexandria, VA 22314 703-519-0092
American Red Cross 1-800-HELPNOW Nassau County Red Cross 516-747-3500	Catholic Relief Services 1-800-HELPCRS
Also accepting donations- Consulate General of Pakistan 12 East 65th Street New York, NY 10021 212-472-4339 Consulate General of Indonesia 5 East 68th Street New York, NY 10021 212-879-0600 Muslim Foundation of America, Inc. 718-721-8851 Americans of Pakistani Heritage, Inc. 516-457-5839 Sikh Gurfwaras in Nassau County 516-931-9304 516-674-6793

Be wary if the organization will not provide information about its program and finances upon request and ask what portion of your gift actually goes to support the charity's program and what proportion goes to administrative costs.