by Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- International aid agencies are accepting donations for victims of the Dec. 26 earthquake and tidal waves that affected Indian Ocean countries.

The following U.S., Canadian and British aid agencies, part of the Caritas Internationalis network, are working with partner agencies in affected countries and are accepting donations. Funds should be earmarked for "tsunami relief" or "tidal wave disaster."

-- Catholic Relief Services -- phone: (877) 435-7277; online: www.catholicrelief.org; or mail to: CRS, 209 W. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21201-3443.

-- Catholic Near East Welfare Association -- phone: (800) 442-6392; online: www.cnewa.org; or mail to: CNEWA, 1011 First Ave., New York, NY 10022-4195.

-- Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace -- phone: (888) 664-3387; online: www.devp.org; or mail to: Development and Peace, 5633 Sherbrooke St. East, Montreal, Quebec H1N 1A3.

-- Catholic Agency for Overseas Development -- phone: 0500 858885; online: www.cafod.org; or mail to: CAFOD, FREEPOST, Romero Close, Stockwell Road, London SW9 9BR.

Jesuit Refugee Service teams in Sri Lanka and Indonesia issued an appeal for support of their relief efforts. Checks marked "tsunami aid" should be made payable to Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and mailed to: Jesuit Refugee Service, 1616 P Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036.

In addition to agencies collecting for immediate relief, the Pontifical Missions Societies in the United States established a special fund for long-term assistance to the church in affected Asian countries, especially Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. Contributions may be earmarked "Southeast Asia Solidarity Fund" and sent to: Pontifical Mission Societies, 366 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10001.

The Catholic Medical Mission Board has created a special relief fund for tsunami relief. Donations can be made via the board's Web site, www.cmmb.org, or by calling (212) 242-7757.

Also, the National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is collecting donations for society councils in affected Asian countries. Contributions may be sent to: The National Council, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 58 Progress Parkway, St. Louis, MO 63043-3706, or be made online at: www.svdpusa.org, by clicking on "contribute now" and "special tribute program."

The Knights of Columbus has set up a special fund. Donations should be marked "Asian Disaster Relief" and in the United States should be sent to: Knights of Columbus Charities Inc., P.O. Box 9028, Pittsfield, MA 01202-9028. Donations in Canada should be sent to: Knights of Columbus Canada Charities Inc., P.O. Box 7252 Station A, Toronto, Ontario M5W 1X9.

The International Catholic Migration Commission, which is based in Geneva and has workers in the United States, is also collecting donations. In the United States, checks should be made payable to ICMC Inc. and sent to: ICMC Inc., c/o MRS/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 3211 Fourth Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194. All other checks should be made payable to ICMC and sent to: ICMC, 37-39 Rue de Vermont, P.O. Box 96, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.