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More countries have revised their donations for the tsunami-affected countries in Asia and Africa as the Indonesian government on Wednesday put final touches on preparations for an emergency summit meeting to discuss relief efforts and reconstruction in the wake of the December 26 earthquake and tsunami.
The Special ASEAN leaders' Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami was scheduled for Thursday in Jakarta, the capital of this worst-hit country in the calamity.
The confirmed death toll from the killer tsunami that was touched off by an 8.7-magnitude earthquake off Indonesia's Sumatra Island on December 26, has climbed to over 145,000 so far, with over 90,000 deaths reported in Indonesia.
The one-day emergency summit is being held under the auspices of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Germany is set to become the world's largest donor after its government decides on Wednesday to raise its earlier pledge of US$27.21 million to some US$670 million.
The German government said on Tuesday that the decision to dramatically increase the financial aid was taken after assessing the needs for the reconstruction of the affected countries, which will need a long-term and lasting commitment, and also an increase in financial aid.
To date, Japan remains the largest donor with a pledge of US$500 million to tsunami-affected countries. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has confirmed attendance to the Jakarta summit on the Asian tsunami disaster.
The US is the second largest donor with a donation of US$350 million.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday in Jakarta that Washington is committed to long-term involvement in post-tsunami relief efforts in the affected countries of Southeast Asia.
Powell, accompanied by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother to US President George W. Bush, arrived here Tuesday from Thailand on a regional tour to assess the damage. They will also attend the ASEAN's global summit on tsunami relief.
"This is not just a one-time humanitarian relief effort or rescue effort. This has to be a long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation effort to rebuild homes, to rebuild families and rebuild lives," Powell said after meeting with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda.
Meanwhile, Switzerland announced that its total contribution has now reached US$40 million to tsunami-affected countries. This includes contributions from both the government and the public.
The country has dispatched a humanitarian aid team to Medan and Aceh. It also sent a plane load of aid, including medicine, tents and water to Medan, the Swiss Embassy in Jakarta said on Tuesday.
The Spanish Embassy said that Spain -- the world's fifth-largest global donor with around US$70 million had dispatched two planes to Medan along with rescue operation experts, doctors, paramedics and firemen.
Spain also sent six tons of emergency aid, including two field hospitals, medical equipment and food.
Portugal, which donated US$13 million to the tsunami-affected countries, had sent a medical and civil emergency team to Medan along with a field hospital and 40 tons of medicine, its embassy in Jakarta said on Tuesday.
Turkey, which has donated US$1.25 million to the relief efforts, said it handed over US$600,000 in cash to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims, its embassy said on Tuesday.
China, which so far has donated US$60.46 million to tsunami-affected countries, sent a second batch of relief materials worth of US$1.21 million to Medan on a chartered plane, the Chinese Embassy said Tuesday.
China also sent a 35-member search and rescue team, including a field hospital, to Aceh. The Chinese companies in Indonesia donated US$131,000 in cash and US$880,000 worth of goods and equipment to the tsunami victims in Aceh and North Sumatra.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is due to arrive here Wednesday evening to attend Thursday's emergency meeting.
The World Bank says it could double or triple the US$250 million it has already promised as the UN says 1.8 million tsunami victims need food and 5 million people are homeless. World Bank President James Wolfensen will attend the meeting as one of the observers.
(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2005)
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