More countries increase aid to tsunami victims<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
More countries have revised their donations for the tsunami
\naffected countries in Asia and Africa as the death toll rises.<\/p>\n
Germany is set to become the world's largest donor after its
\ngovernment took a decision on Wednesday to increase the existing
\npledge of US$27 million to some $670 million.<\/p>\n
The decision to dramatically increase the financial aid was
\ntaken after assessing the long-term needs, Germany's Cooperation
\nand Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
The reconstruction of the affected countries \"will require a
\nlong-term and lasting commitment, and also an increase in
\nfinancial aid,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
The exact sum would be decided at a Cabinet meeting on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
According to a report in the Leipziger Volkszeitung on Tuesday
\nthat could be raised to a package worth 500 million euros ($670
\nmillion).<\/p>\n
Wieczorek-Zeul did not confirm or deny that figure.<\/p>\n
To date, Japan remains the largest donor with a $500 million
\ndonation to tsunami-affected countries. U.S. is the second
\nlargest donor with a donation of $350 million.<\/p>\n
But many countries may revise their contribution in the coming
\nweeks.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Switzerland announced that its total contribution
\nhad now reached $40 million to tsunami-affected countries.<\/p>\n
This includes contributions from both the government and the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
The tiny yet richest country in Europe has dispatched a
\nhumanitarian aid team to Medan and Aceh. It also sent a plane
\nload of aid, including medicine, tents and water to Medan, the
\nSwiss Embassy in Jakarta said in a press release sent to The
\nJakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"Up to now, the Swiss contribution for areas affected by the
\nearthquake and tsunami in Indonesia amounts to CHF 2.5 million
\n(US$2 million). The support will be strengthened according to the
\nneeds based on the above mentioned evaluation,\" the embassy said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Spanish Embassy said that Spain -- the world's
\nfifth-largest global donor with around $70 million -- had
\ndispatched two planes to Medan along with rescue operation
\nexperts, doctors, paramedics and firemen.<\/p>\n
Spain also sent six tons of emergency aid, including two field
\nhospitals, medical equipment and food.<\/p>\n
Portugal, which donated $13 million to the tsunami affected
\ncountries, had sent a medical and civil emergency team to Medan
\nalong with a field hospital and 40 tons of medicine, its embassy
\nin Jakarta said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Turkey, which has donated $1.25 million to the relief efforts,
\nsaid it handed over $600,000 in cash to Indonesia to help the
\ntsunami victims, its embassy said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Russia also sent a plane load of relief materials to
\nIndonesia, the Russian Embassy said.<\/p>\n
China, which so far has donated $60.46 million to tsunami
\naffected countries, sent a second batch of relief materials
\nworth of $1.21 million to Medan on a chartered plane, the Chinese
\nEmbassy said in a press release on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
China also sent a 35-member search and rescue team, including
\na field hospital, to Aceh. The Chinese companies in Indonesia
\ndonated $131,000 in cash and $880,000 worth of goods and
\nequipment to the tsunami victims in Aceh and North Sumatra.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-countries-increase-aid-to-tsunami-victims-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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