UK spends $57m so far on tsunami relief

UK spends $57m so far on tsunami relief

INDONESIA: The British government has already spent over US$57
million on a wide variety of humanitarian relief projects in Aceh
and other tsunami-affected areas in the region, the British
Embassy said in a statement on Thursday.

In Indonesia, the funds had been used for urgent emergency
relief, such as the establishment of a UN base camp in Aceh. The
British government has also provided 3,750 tents and deployed
five helicopters to deliver aid to isolated communities, the
statement said.

British Ambassador to Indonesia Charles Humfrey said that most
of the assistance to Indonesia had been given as a grant.

"The majority of British assistance for Aceh and North Sumatra
has been given as grants to NGOs and international institutions
such as the UN agencies and World Bank to help them fund their
essential activities in the stricken areas," Ambassador Humfrey
stated.

"One of the very good initiatives we are funding is over $1.5
million for an NGO called Mentor Initiative, which is providing
urgently needed mosquito control in Aceh and down the west coast
of Aceh to prevent the spread of malaria and dengue fever," he
said.

The British government has so far pledged $143 million for
post-tsunami relief and recovery. On top of that, the British
public has raised over $380 million in private
donations. -- JP