Benn pledges £15 million for tsunami victims

Wednesday, 29 December 2004 12:00 AM

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn has pledged £15 million for the international aid effort underway to help the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.

Up to 80,000 people, including 26 Britons are reported to have died in the disaster, and with thousands more missing the numbers are expected to rise.

Mr Benn said: "The UK has set aside at least £15m to help the victims of the Asian earthquake. On current figures this puts the UK as the second biggest bilateral donor after the US and more will be given if required.

"The Department for International Development will use this money to respond to appeals from international aid agencies. We have already now received a considerable number of project proposals from non governmental organisations (NGOs), the United Nations and the Red Cross Movement."

The British effort so far has seen supplies of bottled water flown to the Maldives, and the Government has purchased 20,000 tarpaulins, 4,500 cooking sets, 40,000 sleeping mats and 5,000 water cans.

Mr Benn stressed that Britain would deliver on its promise of help.

"The money that we commit is money that we deliver. If we promise something, we do it," he said.

"At the moment we are in the emergency relief phase, which is going to last some time yet given the scale of this terrible catastrophe and the loss of life.

"Then things will move to reconstruction and other parts of the international system will come in - the World Bank, the IMF, the regional development banks and others - and the world will need to give its support and commitment to the process."

UK charities are also hard at work raising money for the victims of the disaster.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) - an umbrella group including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Oxfam and World Vision - is already believed to have raised over £1 million to help the victims of the disaster.

Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India have all suffered severe damage and heavy casualties as a result of the tsunami.

Rescue workers fear that disease could claim as many lives as the disaster itself and some areas remain cut off.

The tsunami struck on Boxing Day following a massive earthquake in South East Asia.

To pledge money to help the victims of the Asian tsunami call the Disasters Emergency Committee on 0870 60 60 900.

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