Australia triples aid for tsunami victims to US$27m
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-29 11:35

Australia has more than tripled its emergency aid to Asian nations stricken by the tsunami disaster, adding 25 million dollars (19.5 million US) to an initial pledge of 10 million dollars.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said 10 million dollars of the additional aid would go to Indonesia, where a massive earthquake on Sunday triggered the deadly tidal waves, with another five million going to Sri Lanka.

Downer indicated that Australia's government would offer further aid in future to help cope with what the United Nations has described as the biggest humanitarian challenge in modern history.

The death toll from the quake and tsunamis in more than eight nations rose towards 60,000 on Wednesday with many more people missing and feared dead.

"As the scale of the Indian Ocean disaster becomes clearer and specific needs are identified, Australia will continue to provide support for the relief effort," Downer said in a statement.

Australia continued to focus its biggest aid effort on neighboring Indonesia, the worst hit area where 27,000 people are confirmed dead.

Downer said Indonesia received five million dollars of the initial aid package of 10 million dollars announced on Monday and four Australian air force C-130 transport planes have flown emergency supplies and medical officers to the worst hit province of Aceh.

The additional 10 million dollars in aid will go to support immediate needs including food and water, shelter and clothing, medical care, emergency power and public health measures in Aceh, Downer said.

"The funding will assist international relief agencies to ramp up their effort quickly," he said.

Sri Lanka, where nearly 18,000 people are confirmed dead, will receive five million dollars to support relief efforts.

Another five million dollars will go to the Australian branches of non-governmental organisations including CARE, World Vision and Oxfam, while the final five million will be distributed to help relief efforts and the deployment of Australian aid personnel to Thailand and the Maldives, Downer said.

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