** Please visit our website: http://www.africanassociation.org **

Great warm heart, Africa!

This is very symbolic of
us in spite of....  Isn't
it?

Cheers!

Richard
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BBC   Thursday, 6 January, 2005, 11:09 GMT

     Africa's effort in tsunami relief

Some 54,000 have been affected by the tsunami in Somalia
African nations and citizens have joined the effort to raise money to help the tens of thousands affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo set up a national committee to raise funds on Tuesday, following South Africa's example earlier in the week. The oil-producing nation had already contributed $1m to the UN fund.

To date, Africa has raised more than $5.5m - the bulk of it coming from North Africa. The figure is expected to rise in the next few days.

Symbolic donations

"Without doubt, this is one of the most devastating and heart-rending disasters to have affected a part of the world in recent human history," Mr Obasanjo said.

 AFRICA'S PLEDGES TO DATE

African Union: $100,000
Algeria: $2m
Libya: $2m
Nigeria: $1m
Mozambique: $100,000
South Africa Red Cross: $400,000

Somali death toll rises

Mr Obasanjo urged all Nigerians to contribute generously to the fund. He said more funds will be will be made to the African Union relief fund, AFP news agency reports.

The African Union has made what it calls a "symbolic contribution" of $100,000 to areas affected by the tsunami which has so far claimed an estimated 150,000 lives.

Mozambique - one of the world's poorest countries, which suffered from catastrophic floods four years ago - has also donated $100,000 to the aid appeal.

On Wednesday, the South Africa Red Cross launched a fundraising drive to raise Rand 10m ($1.6m).

Some $400,000 has already been raised in South Africa by the Red Cross through partnerships with banks and supermarkets.

"Our office in Cape Town has been inundated with phone calls from people who want to help in whatever way they can," the Red Cross's Leslie Mondon said.

Hundreds of South Africans missing

The South African government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to co-ordinate the country's relief effort.  South Africa's Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang will be heading to Indonesia on Thursday to attend the summit to co-ordinate the global relief operation.

Ten South Africans in south-east Asia at the time of the tsunami have so far been confirmed dead, with several hundred South Africans unaccounted for. Other African governments to have made large donations include Algeria and Libya - both pledging $2m.

Kenya is to send 10 doctors and tea to aid tsunami victims.
Meanwhile, the UN launched an appeal to help the tens of thousands of Somalis affected by the tsunami.

Regional authorities in Puntland, the worst-affected area of the country in the north-east, said on Wednesday the death toll has risen to 298.

At least $13m is urgently needed, the UN said on Tuesday.

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