nations pledge aid after asia disaster

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))



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