Baltimore, MD, April 2, 2007 - Catholic Relief Services stands ready to commit an initial $100,000 to aid emergency relief operations in the Solomon Islands after a powerful earthquake triggered a tsunami that flooded several villages and killed more than a dozen people.

"CRS will respond through our sister agencies Caritas Australia and Caritas Solomon Islands," said CRS President Ken Hackett. "We will provide our partners on the ground with whatever they need to respond to this tragedy."

CRS has been in touch with Caritas officials in the region and will provide any necessary emergency technical assistance.

The most serious damage appears to have hit the island of Gizo, which is located in the northwestern Solomons, close to the Bougainville area of Papua New Guinea. At least a dozen people have been killed and many more are reported missing. CRS has received reports of widespread flooding, including Gizo's market area and the airstrip that serves that island, and most of the water tanks that serve many villages along the coast have reportedly been destroyed.

HOW TO HELP: Donate online: www.crs.org Donate via phone: 1-877-HELP-CRS Mail a check: Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency provides assistance to people in 99 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed.

CRS is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Caritas Internationalis is the official humanitarian agency of the global Catholic Church.