Pokonamy Fale: We'll Overcome The Wave

Thousands of Varsovians descended on Plac Teatralny yesterday for a major concert in aid of the Asian Tsunami disaster.

A host of Poland's favourite pop acts braved the cold and rallied to the cause, amongst them golden oldie Maryla Rodowicz and younger talents such as Pop Idol star Ewelina Flint, gyspy temptress Edtya Gorniak, Monika Brodka (Poland's answer to Britney Spears) and rumbustious red haired maverick Michal Wisniewski of Ich Troje fame.

Most of the performing artists had already collaborated on the fund-raising single of the same name, Pokonamy Fale, which was launched on Polish television channels last week.

Poles from all spheres of life have been donating to the Tsunami cause. Last month an association of Polish fishermen from the Baltic coast endeavoured to donate a flotilla of fishing boats to their peers in Asia. Polish Red Cross have also been helping out on site in the affected regions, whilst the Polish government has directed 14 million zloty to the relief effort, much of it channeled through Polish humanitarian organizations on the ground.

With sickness now taking hold on the Far East's ransacked coastlines, the death toll has risen to ever more shocking proportions, with estimates in excess of 250,000 victims.