Thailand donates $250,000 to RI

INDONESIA: Thailand, itself afflicted by the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster, has donated US$250,000 in financial aid to Indonesia for humanitarian relief in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces, the Thai Embassy in Jakarta said on Tuesday.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai handed the donation to Indonesian State Minister of Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman in Phuket on Jan. 28.

Kusmayanto was in Phuket attending a regional ministerial meeting on the tsunami disaster.

Previously, the Thai military donated humanitarian aid consisting of rice, water, dried food and medicine to Indonesian Military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto for distribution to tsunami victims in Aceh.

"Thailand hopes that these contributions will supplement the ongoing relief operation in Indonesia with the aim of bringing about a full and speedy recovery in tsunami-stricken areas of Indonesia," the embassy said in press release sent to The Jakarta Post. -- JP