The tsunami tragedy in South East Asia which has killed more than 150,000 people has created a new trend in fund-raising ? competition amongst charities to raise the most money.

And the competition is heating up on the Island with the announcement yesterday that the Salvation Army will be donating 100 percent of its donations towards the relief effort.

Most charities deduct a certain percentage of donations for administration costs or advertising, but Major Lindsay Rowe said the Salvation Army would carry those costs themselves and would be giving all the money to those who need it the most.

He said the Canada/Bermuda Salvation Army had increased it?s pledge to $1,9-million and were in discussions with Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) who would match whatever the organisation managed to raise.

The Bermuda Red Cross has just passed the $400,000 mark following a $48,000 donation from the LOM Group in Bermuda.

The charity?s total now stands at $413143.98 and includes a $50,000 donation from the Bermuda Government.

Director Ann Spencer-Arscott said the total continued to climb and the charity had a hard time keeping up with calls from the public and local businesses who wanted to contribute both money and manpower.

?The response has just been amazing,? she said.

As to what percentage of donations would be sent to South Asia, the Bermuda Red Cross will only be deducting bank charges and advertising costs.

World Vision said in a statement yesterday that only 85 percent of all donations will be used to provide direct assistance to victims of the tsunami. The other 15 percent will be used to cover administration costs and the like.

Another charity given 100 percent is the The Bermuda Help Sri Lanka Fund, but donations towards this group is slow and they still only have $30,000 in the bank.

Donations will be sent to Galle, one of the worst hit areas along Sri Lanka?s east coast and will be used to build homes.

The organisation is once again appealing for donations.

Donations to the Bermuda Red Cross can be made directly into bank accounts on the Island.

Bank of Bermuda account number: 70121565

Bank of Butterfield: 20006060401365-200

Donations to the Salvation Army can be made online at: www.salvationarmy.ca or www.salvationarmy.org

Donations towards the ?Bermuda Help Sri Lanka Fund? can be made directly into:

The Bank of Bermuda, account number: 1501831875 for Bermudian Dollars, or 1510831875 for US Dollar donations.

And donations to World Vision can be sent to their office in Bermuda at: P.O. Box HM 44, Hamilton, HM AX, stating that the donation is earmarked for South Asia Tsunami Response.

The director of the West Indian Association, Susan Moore-Williams has commended Bermudians for their generosity.

But she that the recovery period in the Caribbean region following last year?s devastating hurricanes will be long and Bermudians needed to be aware that donations would be needed for more than just a few weeks or months.

?We know how long this kind of recovery can take, not to this extent thank goodness, but even the hurricane clean-up in the Caribbean took a long time,? she said.

Ms Moore-Williams said she has always been amazed and thankful for the generosity of Bermudians and once again thanked all those who contributed towards the hurricane relief effort.

?We managed to raise almost $150,000,? she said.

She added that the West Indian community in Bermuda would be supporting the drive and wanted to express their sadness at lives lost, but also hoped that the countries and people effected would start rebuilding their lives as soon as possible.