International Development Secretary visits earthquake zone

International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn, has visited one of the areas worst affected by the Asian Tsunami disaster and has compared the devastation to that seen in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Speaking from Banda Aceh, in Indonesia, Mr Benn said that what he had seen in the area had made him aware that the relief effort had to continue alongside the beginning of a reconstruction process.

Mr Benn is set to continue his visit, travelling first to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, where Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is attending an international tsunami summit meeting, before going to visit Sri Lanka.

The UK government has already pledged £50 million to the Disaster Emergency Committee, with the British public also contributing £76 million so far. However, the Prime Minister has estimated that the government would eventually contribute "hundreds of millions" to the aid fund.

Jack Straw confirmed this at the meeting in Jakarta, where discussions are underway regarding the co-ordination of the relief effort and the reconstruction process in the region. He said: "As the requirements of the countries most affected are better assessed, we will be ready substantially to increase our contribution. Over time, I believe that we will contribute several hundred million pounds, more than matching the already remarkable generosity of the British people."

The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery Good Cause Distributors, has also announced that it will donate £12 million to the disaster fund. The money will be used to help rebuild communities that have been devastated by the disaster and restore shattered civil infrastructure.

Speaking about the donation, Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said: "Money is not just needed now, but long into the future and Lottery players can be confident that this funding will continue to play an important role in the reconstruction of these devastated areas for years to come."

(KMcA/SP)