Calls for international aid plan as Asian death toll tops 50,000

Labour's Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs is urging the Government to initiate an international aid plan, in the aftermath of Sunday’s earthquake.

The South East Asian death toll following the tidal waves is now put at 50,000.

Michael D Higgins says because of the scale of the tragedy, there's a need for the establishment of an international task force.

He says a taskforce to provide logistical support is what's needed in the long term.

The numbers killed in the quake is rising steadily as thousands more are still missing.

At least nine countries are affected most notably Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand, The Maldives, Malaysia and Myanmar.

The force of the quake, which measured 9.0 on the Richter Scale caused tidals crashing leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.