More countries increase aid to tsunami victims

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.