More countries increase aid to tsunami victims
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
More countries have revised their donations for the tsunami affected countries in Asia and Africa as the death toll rises.
Germany is set to become the world's largest donor after its government took a decision on Wednesday to increase the existing pledge of US$27 million to some $670 million.
The decision to dramatically increase the financial aid was taken after assessing the long-term needs, Germany's Cooperation and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said on Tuesday.
The reconstruction of the affected countries "will require a long-term and lasting commitment, and also an increase in financial aid," the minister said.
The exact sum would be decided at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
According to a report in the Leipziger Volkszeitung on Tuesday that could be raised to a package worth 500 million euros ($670 million).
Wieczorek-Zeul did not confirm or deny that figure.
To date, Japan remains the largest donor with a $500 million donation to tsunami-affected countries. U.S. is the second largest donor with a donation of $350 million.
But many countries may revise their contribution in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Switzerland announced that its total contribution had now reached $40 million to tsunami-affected countries.
This includes contributions from both the government and the public.
The tiny yet richest country in Europe has dispatched a humanitarian aid team to Medan and Aceh. It also sent a plane load of aid, including medicine, tents and water to Medan, the Swiss Embassy in Jakarta said in a press release sent to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
"Up to now, the Swiss contribution for areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia amounts to CHF 2.5 million (US$2 million). The support will be strengthened according to the needs based on the above mentioned evaluation," the embassy said.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Embassy said that Spain -- the world's fifth-largest global donor with around $70 million -- had dispatched two planes to Medan along with rescue operation experts, doctors, paramedics and firemen.
Spain also sent six tons of emergency aid, including two field hospitals, medical equipment and food.
Portugal, which donated $13 million to the tsunami affected countries, had sent a medical and civil emergency team to Medan along with a field hospital and 40 tons of medicine, its embassy in Jakarta said on Tuesday.
Turkey, which has donated $1.25 million to the relief efforts, said it handed over $600,000 in cash to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims, its embassy said on Tuesday.
Russia also sent a plane load of relief materials to Indonesia, the Russian Embassy said.
China, which so far has donated $60.46 million to tsunami affected countries, sent a second batch of relief materials worth of $1.21 million to Medan on a chartered plane, the Chinese Embassy said in a press release on Tuesday.
China also sent a 35-member search and rescue team, including a field hospital, to Aceh. The Chinese companies in Indonesia donated $131,000 in cash and $880,000 worth of goods and equipment to the tsunami victims in Aceh and North Sumatra.