RELIEF EFFORTS ONGOING ACROSS ASIA

The grisly search for the dead continus across the Tsunami zone in Asia. Officials believe thousands upon thousands of bodies have yet to be recovered eight days after one of the worst natural disasters on record. Countless survivors are still searching for any trace of missing loved ones. The official death toll from the South Asian tsunami unleased by a magnitude of 9 earthquake off Indonesia on December 26, has climed to more than 150,000, with millions left homeless, hungry and threatened by deadly disease. American helicopters continue to fly in supplies and food, and are also picking up survivors, having picked up a small girl clutching a stuffed Snoopy dog on Monday. About 60 other victims were also rescued in about two dozen missions. The American pilots said the damage was stunning. The relief operation was one of the largest U. S. military missions in southern Asia since the Vietnam War. After President Bush, and his two immediate predecessors, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, appealed to Americans to contribute to the massive aid effort, two Hollywood actors have stepped up and made large donations. Leonardo Dicaprio pledged a "sizable" contribution to UNICEF, the United Nations Children`s Fund, targeted for aid to devastated areas of Thailand, where his 2000 film "The Beach" was filmed. Also Sandra Bullock donated $1million dollars to The American Red Cross for tsunami relief in South Asia and East Africa. The star of "Miss Congeniality" and "Speed" previously donated $1 million to the Red Cross in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Plans are in the works for telethons to aid the efforts, and Media conglomerate News Corp. also announced a $1 million contribution to tsunami relief and reconstruction and pledged to match employee donations dollar for dollar. News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdock called on his U. S. based media companies to make print and air time available to solicit donations.