Government agencies aid tsunami victims

Updated: 2004-12-31 00:15

Ibra Lebbe Fajrutheen, an urban planning and design major from Sir Lanka, has received help from the Shanghai-based Tongji University.

The disaster killed two of his sisters and eight other relatives. Another sister is still missing and Fajrutheen said he hopes to go back home for funerals.

The university donated 5,000 yuan (US$602) to Fajrutheen and bought him an air tickets to return.

He will leave for his country next Wednesday, said Chen Qiang, who oversees needs of the foreign students at the university.

The local public security departments have also provided assistance to expedite Fajrutheen's visa.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the nation's civil aviation watchdog, has urged domestic aviation enterprises and regional administrations to guarantee transportation of relief supplies to the tsunami-affected areas.

Airlines including Air China, China Eastern and China Southern are prioritizing transport of relief materials and rescue teams, according to the CAAC.

Additional measures are being taken to ensure mission safety.

The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) has offered to donate a number of relief items via local Chinese embassies.

"We have informed local women's organizations that we will meet their needs as much as possible," said ACWF Vice-chairperson Zhao Shaohua.

Inside the federation, about 8,000 yuan (US$967) has been collected so far.

"We may be involved more in the aftermath, such as training and schooling children," said Zhao.

Meanwhile, another dozen doctors and epidemic control experts left for the Phuket Island from South China's Guangdong Province yesterday afternoon.

China is very willing to provide medical support to help people in the disaster-hit areas, said Deng Haihua, director of the Ministry of Health's news office.

A team made up of more than 100 medical professionals from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou is always on standby to head for those affected areas.

Non-governmental efforts

The Red Cross Society of China has raised its pledge for aid, offering another US$340,000, giving a total of US$640,000.

A surge in donations nationwide brought in 100,000 yuan (US$12,091) after the society released its donation hot line number, 86-10-65139999 to various media and called on people to offer humanitarian assistance to tsunami victims.

Chinese enterprises are also showing concern.

Guangdong-based TCL Corporation yesterday donated 3 million yuan US$362,700 to the affected countries.

Charis Zhao, vice-president of the company, said they will continue raising money by holding a charity bazaar for the benefit."It is a terrible disaster for human beings, and all people around the world have responsibility to join the relief effort," he said.

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