Aid offers soar, so does death toll

The latest reports from the affected regions said. Sri Lanka's death toll has reached 30,500 with another 3,884 missing but Indonesia, the worst hit country's death toll was 113, 306 with 10,000 missing.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, China, USA, France, Britain and many more nations have already come forward with material, financial, medical and other specialist assistance to Sri Lanka. The US government, while increasing its assistance, has also given tax relief to US citizens who contribute towards the disaster-hit regions.

At the one-day summit in Indonesia Thursday (7) World leaders agreed to increase aid to the tsunami hit nations, where at least 159,000 people died, with Australia leading with 810 millon dollar in aid. Germany, Japan and the United States were the other nations contributing major assistance funds but US State Secretary Collin Powell was reported saying after the summit that the US would watch the situation and pledge more aid.

Japanese Foreign Minister Machimura said Japan had already pledged 500 million dollars Meanwhile, the WHO Secretary General warned that around 150,000 persons living in temporary shelters in the affected countries were at risk in the event of disease breaking out in these shelters.