09/03/2005

National memorial service to be held for tsunami victims

The government has announced plans to hold a national memorial service for the UK victims of the Asian tsunami.

The service will be held at St Paul's Cathedral in London on May 11.

A statement issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said that as well as remembering the UK victims, the service would also pay tribute to the "huge suffering" endured by all the countries affected as well as the "overwhelming" humanitarian response.

Representatives of communities in the UK with close ties to countries affected by the disaster, as well as faith communities and the relief agencies involved will also be present.

Official figures record 82 Britons as among the estimated 300,000 people who died in the Boxing Day disaster. According to the latest Foreign Office figures, 107 people are listed as missing and 'highly likely' to have been involved in the disaster, while another 75 missing people are listed as 'possibly involved'.

Several countries were badly affected by the Asian tsunami, including Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Many foreign tourists were also killed in the disaster.

The Disasters Emergency Committee recently reported that over £250 million had been donated by the British public to the tsunami appeal.

The government said that invitations to family members of the tsunami victims would be sent out shortly.

(KMcA/SP)

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