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Germany Sends $2.73 Million
German leaders have expressed condolences to the government leaders of those Southeast Asian countries affected by the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunamis. German Federal President Horst Köhler, in a telegram to the heads of state of the affected countries, expressed his deep shock and sympathy on behalf of all Germans: “Please convey my condolences to those left behind in mourning, to whom we turn our thoughts of sympathy.” Chancellor Gerhard Schröder wrote in a telegram: “In the name of the Federal Government, I express to you my deeply felt sympathy. I am able to assure you that Germany will stand by those people tested by sorrow in this difficult time.” Some German citizens are also among the victims. Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer also expressed condolences to his counterparts in the affected countries. With respect to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Malaysia and the Maldives, countries heavily affected by the disaster, Fischer said: “Germany is ready to help our partners cope with this difficult crisis.” At least 100 Germans are believed missing as a result of the tsunami in Southern Asia, Fischer said on Tuesday. “There is a reason for serious concern. We believe the number of missing is in three figures.” Fischer also announced that Germany would be doubling its emergency aid provision to $2.73 million (2 million euros). "It's not just about helping German tourists and clarifying the fate of the missing. We should not forget that it is a catastrophe of the century for the whole region," said Fischer. He added that Chancellor Gerhard Schröder would be breaking off his Christmas holiday and returning to Berlin. A medical evacuation plane of the German air force set off for Phuket and two more planes chartered by the German government would take disaster relief teams, medicines and consular officials there. They will also bring German tourists back. Around 15 catastrophe relief specialists had already arrived on the tourist island. Germany's largest utility E.ON also announced on Tuesday it would donate one million euros for tsunami victims. The European Union has made available $4 million (3 million euros) in aid. A team of three drinking-water and infrastructure experts with the German Technical Reconstruction Agency (Technische Hilfswerk), sent by the German Interior Ministry, has arrived in Colombo on Sri Lanka. In addition, aid workers with Medica, a medical team and the Workers’ Samaritan Federation Germany (Arbeitersamariterbund), are also on location in the region. The German Red Cross is preparing to travel to the region. Several German aid organizations have set up a joint account to receive charitable donations under the name “Aktion Deutschland hilft.” Foreign Minister Fischer is leading a Foreign Office crisis task force, which is in constant communication with the German missions in the region, which in turn are working closely with local authorities, aid organizations and travel agencies. All German embassies in the region have received additional personnel. The German travel company LTU sent a chartered plane with experts from German aid organizations from Düsseldorf to Colombo. German Foreign Office Hotline: 011 49 30 5000-1000 (for relatives of German tourists in Southeast Asia) December 28, 2004
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