The President of the Grand Chairty has announced that, in addition to the £100,000 emergency grant to the Red Cross he has authorised two further emergency grants to the Distgrict Grand Lodges of Madras (£10,000) and Sri Lanka (£25,000) to assist them in their efforts to help victims of the disaster.

In response to requests from a number of Provinces and to the generous reaction of members of the Craft, the Grand Charity has established a designated Asian Tsunami 2004 Floods Relief Chest (No. E0091) to receive contributions from Lodges and individual Freemasons. Cheques should be made payable to The Grand Charity with a note that the donation is for the special relief chest, and if you are a tax payer a note permitting the Grand Charity to reclaim the tax on the donation. To date over £560,000 has been sent to the Relief Chest.

The Council of the Grand Charity met on 26 January and resolved to recommend to the AGM that a further £300,000 be allocated from the Grand Charity's general funds towards provision of long term support to children orphaned or otherwise affected by the disaster. The Council will also recommend that the money donated to the special Relief Chest be applied to this project, and is in discussion with a number of specialist international charities who are operating in the affected areas to identify suitable projects.

The District Grand Lodge of Madras, which covers the area of Southern India worst hit by the disaster, rather than donating to a general disaster fund is working with SOS VIllages and Chatnath Homes on a long term project to provide safe villages for orphaned children. The children will be given protection and education until such time as they are old enough to support themselves. The District has provided an initial 5 million rupees to start the project but sees it as a long term financial commitment. In addition the District Grand Charity in Madras gave immediate grants to Lodges in the worst affected areas to provide immediate relief.