The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has urged Londoners to contribute generously to the relief efforts for the victims of the earthquake and Tsunami which devastated the lives of millions of people around the Indian Ocean and beyond.
The Mayor said: "The scale of this disaster is nearly impossible to grasp. In addition to the enormous loss of life, hundreds of thousands of people have been injured and millions are in desperate need of medical supplies, drinking water, food, clothing and shelter. It’s a vast human tragedy that touches us all. Many, many Londoners have family members living in the areas where this disaster struck. Many others have visited the region for holidays or business.
It is imperative that the international community is unstinting in providing timely humanitarian aid on the scale necessary to provide water, food, clothing and shelter and prevent the destruction wreaked by the Tsunami from being added to by epidemics and preventable diseases. In addition to that immediate effort, there must also be clear commitments to provide the assistance needed to rebuild communities suffering the destruction of infrastructure, housing, industry and agriculture.
I would urge every Londoner to help by contributing whatever they can to assist the relief effort. I would like to pay tribute to the many London communities with links to the disaster zone who have already started to raise funds.
As London marks the end of 2004 and the beginning of 2005 our thoughts will be with those suffering the loss of loved ones and shattered lives as a result of this disaster."
