Generous global response to calls for disaster relief

International aid: Countries around the globe have stepped forward with pledges of cash and assistance to the victims of the…

International aid: Countries around the globe have stepped forward with pledges of cash and assistance to the victims of the southern Asian earthquake and tsunami disaster.

The following is a list of contributions pledged, as compiled from reports by Reuters bureaux and United Nations agencies.

Australia: Sent four air force transport planes with supplies and medical specialists to the western Indonesian island of Sumatra and committed $7.6 million to the international relief effort.

Belgium: Sending a military airbus with 22 tonnes of aid from Medecins Sans Frontieres and UNICEF to Sri Lanka.

READ MORE

Britain: Sent an aircraft with plastic sheets and tents worth £250,000 to Sri Lanka. It said it was contributing £370,000 to the EU aid effort and a further $100,000 to the World Health Organisation for relief efforts.

Canada: Will make an initial contribution of Can $1 million ($814,300) to an appeal for some $6.5 million by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

China: Airlifting emergency aid to stricken countries.

Czech Republic: Despatched a plane to Sri Lanka with drinking water. Officials said overall aid worth $444,400 would be sent.

European Union: Pledged €3 million ($4.06 million) and said it could mobilise up to €30 million for distribution to aid groups.

France: Offered sanitation equipment and medical aid to Sri Lanka.

Germany: Is contributing €1 million of emergency aid to the international effort and taking part in the EU programme. It sent a disaster relief team to Sri Lanka.

Greece: Offered Sri Lanka medical assistance, including 17 doctors and staff.

Israel: Sent a medical team with medicines and equipment to Sri Lanka and another to Thailand.

Japan: Sent an emergency medical team to Sri Lanka and a damage assessment group to Indonesia.

Kuwait: Agreed to send aid supplies worth $1 million.

Netherlands: Contributing €2 million to the Red Cross-Red Crescent appeal, above and beyond its EU participation.

Singapore: Armed forces medical teams and relief supplies ready to fly to Indonesia.

Spain: Madrid is sending a plane with first aid and sanitary equipment to Sri Lanka. It has promised €1 million for aid.

Sweden: Sending tents and communications equipment to the Maldives. The Swedish Red Cross said it would contribute $750,000 to the ICRC appeal.

UAE: Pledged $2 million in aid and its Red Crescent was planning to send three plane-loads of aid to India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka today.

US: Plans to provide an initial $15 million in aid and had already released $100,000 each to India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Three aircraft sent to the region to assess damage.

UNHCR: Providing homeless in Sri Lanka with 18,000 pieces of plastic sheeting, 17,000 plastic mats, rope and non-food relief packages for 2,000 families.