Aid Flow in South Asia
Michael Schumacher, seven-time German Formula 1 Champion, announced that he will send a donation of $10 million and North Korea, which has difficulties feeding even its own people, has also declared it will help the region.
The North Korean Official News Agency KNCA reports that the Pyongyang administration has decided to send $150,000 emergency aid to the earthquake and the tsunami victims.
China has collected 35 million yuan ($4.2 million) for the disaster victims.
Russia, which had earlier sent three planes full of aids to Sri Lanka, sent 20-tons of humanitarian aid on a II-76 type plane to Indonesia yesterday.
It is expected that Moscow will send aid to the other regions affected by the disaster.
Japan is also sending between 700 and 800 soldiers to South Asian countries for aid.
Japan holds the record in terms of financial aid with $500 million and has currently mobilized the biggest military support so far to the aid operations.
The US, which has over 13,000 soldiers in ships in the Indian Ocean to aid the disaster victims, has also announced that it is ready to send its 1000-bed military hospital ship USNS Mercy to the region.
Washington announced as well that it will increase the number of helicopters involved in the rescue operations and aid activities in South Asia from 46 to 90.
Great Britain announced that it will send 120 soldiers to Indonesia to support the aid activities in the region.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard declared January 16 as an official day of mourning and announced that his country will contribute to the aid efforts with 100 million Australian dollars ($76.5 million).
