Alwaleed donates $19m to victims

Alwaleed donates $19m to victims

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the world's
fourth-richest man, donated US$19 million to the victims of last
month's Indian Ocean tsunami in a televised telethon after
criticism the Gulf Arab monarchies hadn't given enough aid.

The donation comprised $4 million in cash, one million
articles of clothing valued at $11.7 million, and 10,000 tents
worth $3.3 million, according to an e-mailed statement sent by
the Kingdom Holding Company.

"Our contribution is to ease the suffering of our brothers and
sisters in South Asia," Alwaweed said. "We believe that
humanitarian aid is a responsibility shared by all, and that it
transcends religion, race and geographic boundaries."

Saudi Arabia yesterday started a campaign to raise funds for
victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami, which left more than 155,000
people dead or missing. As of yesterday, the governments of Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates had between them
pledged $60 million, compared with $688 million from Germany,
$500 million from Japan and $350 million from the U.S. --
Bloomberg