 |
|
Reuters, December 28, 2004 Nations Pledge Cash For Quake Victims Countries around the globe have stepped forward with pledges of cash and assistance to the victims of the southern Asian disaster. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Monday it would take "many billions of dollars" for rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts. The following is a list of contributions pledged, as compiled from reports by Reuters bureaus and UN agencies. AUSTRALIA: Australia sent four transport planes with supplies and medical specialists to the western Indonesian island of Sumatra and committed US$7.6 million to the effort. BELGIUM: The government is flying 22 tonnes of aid from Medecins Sans Frontieres and UNICEF to Sri Lanka. BRITAIN: London sent an aircraft with plastic sheets and tents worth 250,000 pounds (US$481,500) to Sri Lanka. It said it was contributing 370,000 pounds to the EU aid effort and a further $100,000 to the World Health Organization. CANADA: Canada said it would make an initial contribution of 1 million Canadian dollars ($814,300) to an appeal for some US$6.5 million by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). CHINA: China said it would airlift emergency aid to stricken countries. CZECH REPUBLIC: Prague dispatched a plane to Sri Lanka with drinking water. Officials said US$444,400 in aid would be sent. EUROPEAN UNION: The European Commission pledged 3 million euros (US$4.06 million) and said it could mobilize up to 30 million euros for rapid distribution to aid groups. FRANCE: Foreign Minister Michel Barnier is heading to Sri Lanka and Thailand on a flight carrying aid. Paris has earmarked 100,000 euros for initial rescue efforts in Thailand and has sent a plane with about 100 rescue workers and five tonnes of aid to Sri Lanka. GERMANY: Germany said it was contributing 1 million euros of emergency aid to the international effort and taking part in the EU program. It sent a disaster relief team to Sri Lanka. GREECE: Greece has offered Sri Lanka medical assistance including 17 doctors and staff. ISRAEL: Israel sent a medical team with medicines and equipment to Sri Lanka and another to Thailand. It plans to send a military search and rescue team to Sri Lanka Tuesday. JAPAN: Tokyo sent an emergency medical team to Sri Lanka and a damage assessment group to Indonesia. KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti cabinet agreed to send aid supplies worth $1 million to the affected region. NETHERLANDS: The Netherlands said it was contributing 2 million euros to the Red Cross-Red Crescent appeal, above and beyond its participation in the overall EU program. SINGAPORE: Singapore said it would contribute around US$1.2 million to the global effort, and had armed forces medical teams and relief supplies ready to fly to Indonesia. SPAIN: Madrid was sending a plane with first aid and sanitary equipment to Sri Lanka. It promised 1 million euros for aid and planes and was considering sending specialists to help distribution. SWEDEN: Sweden sent two communications specialists to help UN relief efforts in Sri Lanka, and planned to ship tents and communications equipment to the Maldives. The Swedish Red Cross said it would contribute US$750,000 to the global IFRC appeal. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: The government pledged US$2 million in aid and its Red Crescent was planning to send three plane-loads of aid to India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka Tuesday. UNITED STATES: Washington said it would give an initial US$15 million in aid and had already released US$100,000 each to India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It said the US Pacific Command sent three patrol aircraft to assess damage. IMF: The head of the International Monetary Fund said he intended to provide assistance, but did not specify. UNHCR: The UN refugee agency said it was providing homeless in Sri Lanka with 18,000 pieces of plastic sheeting, 17,000 plastic mats, rope and nonfood relief packages for 2,000 families. UNICEF: The UN children's agency was distributing clothing and more than 30,000 blankets and sleeping mats in Sri Lanka and 1,600 water tanks, 30,000 blankets, medical supplies and hundreds of thousands of water purification pills in India. Similar supplies would soon be heading to Indonesia and the Maldives. UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: The UNDP provided US$100,000 each to Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, the Maldives and Thailand to help them assess and coordinate emergency needs. UN POPULATION FUND: The fund said it earmarked up to US$1 million and extra staff to help ensure that the special health needs of pregnant and nursing women were met. ($1=.5192 Pound) ($1=1.228 Canadian Dollar) ($1=.7386 Euro) Find this item at:
Home About Us Newsletters News Archives Donate
|