The Red Cross is now responding to three near-simultaneous disasters across the Asia Pacific region which is tragically living up to its reputation as one of the most disaster-prone regions of the world. The British Red Cross is urgently appealing for funds in response to the escalating situation in Samoa, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Early warning systems, supported by local Red Cross volunteers, have helped to save many lives, but the scale of the disasters has had a huge and devastating impact.

As Typhoon Ketsana slammed into the Philippines and Vietnam, our volunteers were the first responders to the disaster. Even before the first raindrops hit the ground in Vietnam, Red Cross volunteers helped evacuate more than 160,000 people.

Hours later a deadly tsunami, triggered by an earthquake, struck the coast of Samoa. Further north, an unrelated quake struck disaster-prone Indonesia, bringing back memories of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Hundreds are dead and thousands injured.

These multiple disasters have wreaked havoc across the Asia-Pacific region. The need for your support is urgent: the death toll is mounting and human suffering increasing.

Local staff and volunteers have been working to evacuate families, set up shelters and distribute emergency aid, but much more will be needed and we need to act now. To donate go to www.redcross.org.uk/asiapacific or 0845 054 7201 Mike Goodhand, Head of Disaster Management, British Red Cross