BRUSSELS – The Belgian government has pledged a further EUR 10 million to help victims of the Asian tidal waves, bringing the country’s total contribution to date to EUR 12 million, it has been confirmed.

The Belgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Sunday night that the funds would be used to provide food and emergency aid for disaster struck countries.

Belgium has already contributed EUR 2 million to the international disaster relief effort.

The money has been distributed to the Red Cross, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, Unicef and Medecins sans Frontiers (Doctors without borders).

The Foreign Ministry said Belgium would free up further funds to help the relief effort later in the week.

The United Nations has said the total number of deaths from the Asian tidal waves could be as high as 150, 000.

[Copyright Expatica 2005]

Subject: Belgian news