Dear Friends in the Dhamma,

Your kind words of sympathy are deeply appreciated by the WFB President, H.E. Phan Wannamethee, and all of us at The World Fellowship of Buddhists Headquarters.

The massive Tsunami from the undersea earthquake that slammed across two continents, mostly into southern Asian countries including Thailand, in the 6 southern provinces, on Sunday 26 December B.E. 2547 (2004) happened suddenly and was unprecedented. The death toll as of 5 January B.E. 2548 (2005) was 146,020 of which 5,265 in Thailand, with 8,457 more injured and 3,810 missing.

In Thailand, His Majesty the King has donated 30 million baht (39 baht = $US 1) from his personal fund to help restore the stricken provinces. Meanwhile the Prime Minister and his cabinet, as well as our WFB President in his capacity as the Secretary General of the Thai Red Cross Society, are doing their best to lend assistance. More than 13,000 rescuers and volunteers, from across the country and abroad, as well as helicopters and ships have headed south to help the victims.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has also set up two information centres operating around the clock to provide necessary information, in an attempt to facilitate the return of foreigners affected to their respective countries as soon as possible.

In this regard, I would like to inform you of Thailand’s Official Tsunami and Disaster Center website:

<www.thaitsunami.com>

Finally, I, on behalf of H.E. the President of The World Fellowship of Buddhists wish to express once again his appreciation for the messages of sympathy and condolences coming in from the WFB Regional Centres, and to convey his deepest sympathy to those who lost their loved ones and those who suffered massive property loss in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives,  Kenya, Somalia, Seychelles and Tanzania.

May The Triple Gem bless you.

Yours in the Dhamma,

Phallop Thaiarry
Hon. Secretary-General
The World Fellowship of Buddhists