Food for the Hungry is responding to the disaster by pledging $3 million to relief efforts in the countries of Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India, and FFTH teams began working in the affected areas immediately after the tsunami struck.

According to David Evans, Vice President of Government and Gift-in-Kind Resources, "The disaster response effort is significantly more complex than most emergencies due to the huge geographical area that has been devastated by the tsunami.  At least five countries were hard hit and large swathes of their coastlands are in ruins," said David Evans, vice president of government and gift-in-kind resources for FFTH. "This is compounded by the difficulty in getting help to the many islands that were inundated. Millions of people are without food, water and shelter.  Those will be the key needs that we respond to over the next few weeks."

In India, FFTH began working with the local Evangelical Fellowship of India's Committee on Relief (EFICOR) and Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF) agencies to hand out food rations, hygiene supplies, clothes, utensils, bedding and tarps to 3,000 people, with plans to continue and expand relief efforts. Food for the Hungry distributed $24,000 to local partners in the first 24 hours after the disaster.

In Indonesia, FFTH is partnering with Church of the Holy Christ Indonesia to reach the remote, hard-hit Aceh province. A response team led by David Sir, FFTH's vice president for Asia reached the province's capital last Tuesday and has handed out food packages to more than 500 families. Medical teams sent by the organization arrived late last week.

In Thailand, FFTH sent a response team led by the organization's International President Randy Hoag, as water, food, and clothing distributions were made to 3,000 victims. FFTH staff also met in Washington, D.C. with Thailand's ambassador to the United States. A mobile medical clinic has been set up and families in five of the hardest-hit villages will each receive $12 to meet their immediate needs.