Reuters AlertNet invites NGOs to apply for money from AIDfund for work in response to the emergency engulfing a swath of coastal nations across the Indian Ocean from Indonesia to Sri Lanka and beyond to Africa.

Giant waves on December 26 were triggered by a 9.0-magnitude undersea earthquake -- the world’s biggest in 40 years -- killing tens of thousands of people and destroying millions of homes in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Indonesia, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

AIDfund -- established by Reuters Foundation - provides rapid funding to charities and relief organisations around the world in times of disaster.

This funding is only available to AlertNet’s 343 member NGOs from 84 countries. Click here to check if your organisation is an AlertNet member.

If you have any questions, call Nina Brenjo on +44 20 7542 2432 or write to alertnet@reuters.com

The deadline for funding applications is December 30, 1700 GMT.

Click here to access the application form.