UPDATE 1-FACTBOX-Nations pledge aid after Asia disaster 05:44, Wednesday, 29 December 2004
(Updates contributions)
LONDON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Aid agencies struggled on Tuesday to cope with the scale of the Asian tsunami disaster which has killed more than 59,000 people, with the International Red Cross saying it may have to treble its appeal for funds.
The following is a list of contributions pledged, compiled from reports by Reuters bureaux and United Nations agencies.
AUSTRALIA: Four air force transport planes with supplies and medical specialists sent to the western Indonesian island of Sumatra. $7.6 million committed to international relief effort. Two 15-member emergency medical teams and 12-strong team of police bound for Phuket.
AUSTRIA - Pledged 1 million euros ($1.36 million) in aid to the countries hit.
BELGIUM: Belgian military plane due to stop at Dubai to load most of its cargo; UNICEF aid such as tents, vaccines.
BRITAIN: Plastic sheets and tents worth 250,000 pounds ($481,500) sent to Sri Lanka. Giving 370,000 pounds to EU aid effort and $100,000 to World Health Organisation.
CANADA: Initial contribution of 1 million Canadian dollars ($814,300) to appeal for some $6.5 million by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
CHINA: Offering 21.6 million yuan ($2.6 million) of aid to India, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
CZECH REPUBLIC: A plane sent to Sri Lanka with drinking water. Officials said aid worth $444,400 would be sent.
DENMARK - A UNICEF flight from Copenhagen with 45 tonnes of supplies, including oral rehydration salts and medical supplies to serve 150,000 people for three months. 10 million crowns ($1.82 million) put aside quick relief.
EUROPEAN UNION: Ready to release up to 30 million euros on top of an 3 million euros already allocated to IFRC.
FINLAND - Pledged 500,000 euros of aid to the IFRC. Local aid organisations contribute another 75,000 euros. The Finnish Red Cross has sent a field hospital with 15 staff to Sri Lanka.
FRANCE: Foreign Minister Michel Barnier in Sri Lanka to go to Thailand Wednesday, 100,000 euros earmarked for rescue efforts, 16 rescuers sent to Thailand and 10 tonnes aid to Sri Lanka.
GERMANY: Germany doubling its emergency aid to 2 million euros. German air force medical evacuation plane to set off for Phuket and two more planes chartered to take disaster relief teams, medicines and consular officials there. Germany's largest utility E.ON to donate 1 million euros.
GREECE: Offered Sri Lanka medical assistance, with 17 doctors and staff.
ISRAEL: Medical team sent to Sri Lanka and another to Thailand. Military search and rescue team due in Sri Lanka held up by coordination problems.
ITALY - Two Hercules aircraft to be sent, one to Sri Lanka, one to Thailand.
JAPAN: Some $30 million in aid pledged and three navy vessels sent to Thailand to help rescue survivors.
KUWAIT: Aid supplies worth $2 million pledged and $100,000 immediate aid sent. NETHERLANDS: Contributing 2 million euros to Red Cross-Red Crescent appeal, plus participating in EU aid programme.
POLAND - Government earmarked 1 million zlotys ($336,100) for Polish NGOs involved in relief.
SINGAPORE: Contributing some $1.2 million to global effort, military medical teams and supplies ready to fly to Indonesia.
SPAIN: Sending first aid and sanitary equipment to Sri Lanka. One million euros promised for aid and planes.
SWEDEN: Two communications specialists sent to help U.N. relief efforts in Sri Lanka. Sending tents and communications equipment to the Maldives. Swedish Red Cross to contribute $750,000 to IFRC appeal.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Pledged $2 million in aid and its Red Crescent society will donate 30 tonnes of food, blankets and clothing to earthquake victims to be transported over this week.
UNITED STATES: Plans to provide an initial $15 million in aid and $100,000 each already released to India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Three patrol aircraft sent to assess damage.
-- Three U.S. military disaster relief assessment teams, each numbering 10-15 people, departed for Thailand.
-- U.S. Pacific Command to send at least six cargo planes with relief supplies including food, clothing and shelter.
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS - A cargo plane flying from Kenya to Sri Lanka carrying 105 tonnes of supplies for basic needs of 50,000 people hit by the disaster.
IMF: Intends to provide assistance, but no specific pledges.
UNHCR: Initially distributing $380,000 of non-food relief items, including 23,500 plastic sheets for shelter, 24,500 plastic mats, clothing, towels and 20,000 kitchen sets.
UNICEF: Distributing clothing and 30,000 blankets and sleeping mats in Sri Lanka, 1,600 water tanks, 30,000 blankets, medical supplies and hundreds of thousands of water purification pills in India. Similar supplies heading to Indonesia and Maldives.
U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: Provided $100,000 each to Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, the Maldives and Thailand to help assess damage and coordinate emergency needs.
U.N. POPULATION FUND: Earmarked up to $1 million and extra staff to help health needs of pregnant and nursing women. ($1=.5192 Pound) ($1=1.228 Canadian Dollar) ($1=.7386 Euro) ($1=2.975 Zloty)
(For more news about emergency relief visit Reuters AlertNet www.alertnet.org email: [email protected]; +44 207 542 2432)
((Editing by Jon Hemming; e-mail: [email protected]; telephone: +65 6870 3852, Additional writing by London Editorial Reference Unit))
