The devastation caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake has resulted in a dramatic increase to Charity websites as Internet users rush online to give their support, according to data just released from Hitwise.

ÊFollowing the tsunami disaster on December 26th, traffic to Humanitarian websites has grown over five-fold, with the sector now representing 0.29% of all visits made online.

Ê

The website of the UK’s Disaster Emergency Committee (www.dec.org.uk), an umbrella organization which coordinates the UK’s national appeal for humanitarian crises overseas, is the most visited Charity website. The appeal for donations to the crisis has resulted in the website increasing its ranking by 50 places within the last 2 days, accounting for more than 35% share of all visits made to Charity websites. However, the overwhelming response to the appeal has resulted in people having difficulty making donations online and instead visitors are advised to make a donation by telephone.

Ê

Oxfam and the British Red Cross are the next most visited Charity websites, whilst the blog site (tsunamihelp.blogspot.com), which provides news and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts, is the 10th most visited Charity website and previously was not ranked by Hitwise.Ê More than 1 in 10 visitors have saved the website to their “Favourites” in the last couple of days.

Ê

Most visited Humanitarian websites, December 29th 2004:
Disasters Emergency Committee

Oxfam GB

British Red Cross, Blue Peter Welcome Home Appeal

British Red Cross

All About Giving

Reuters AlertNet

The Hunger Site

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent

Christian Aid

tsunamihelp.blogspot.co

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

Ê

——-