The unending human toll of the catastrophe, the explosive conditions of disorder in some already conflict-ridden areas, the process of a global community inventing mechanisms to mobilze resources in a timeframe and on a scale not seen before -- we will be feeling the ripple effects of the tsunami for some time to come. To keep track of day-to-day developments and longer term consequences, we've added a new category under "global threats and responses."

As prak has been following, the US is now quite publicly gearing up across the board to mobilize not only money and supplies but the transportation, logistics and assessment teams required. Looks like Thailand will be a major center of operations for the US, at least before other naval resources have made their way to the region.

Berlusconi has just called for the G-8 to take a joint response. And France and Germany are leading an effort for the Paris Club to address debt relief for the affected countries. The outpouring of donations from the wealthy countries, both public and private, continues to grow along with the death toll.

Although the most efficient way of providing private assistance right now is to the big NGOs which, in turn, can triage needs and allocate funds, many of us want to feel that we're somehow doing more, or making a more direct difference. Individuals are beginning to ask how they can volunteer to help directly -- which is currently a major challenge due to the simple constraints of transporting people and supplies to affected areas. The need for volunteers is more likely to be critical in the months to come, as millions of homeless, already vulnerable and leading a marginal existence, struggle to get back on their feet.

At the grassroots level of assistance delivery, there are already local organizations on the ground that are shifting their attention from their longer-term economic and social development programs to the immediate requirements of their "clients." The online development network, Global Giving, which we've highlighted in other posts and in the sidebar, already has a page of local projects in India working to help tsunami victims. It will undoubtedly expand in both number of projects and countries covered in the future, so it's worth watching closely to see what specific needs can be addressed with donations.

Our initial post on places to go for good information on the tsunami, its impact, and news about victims and survivors, as well as sites to visit about assistance is here.