FM confirms fourth death of national in tsunami

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday confirmed the fourth death of a Chinese citizen in the tsunami that has claimed at least 125,000 people in South, Southeast Asia and Africa.

Hu Xiaolan, a Chinese Embassy official in Thailand, said the body was that of a female who was swept away by waters in Thailand. The victim was from East China's Jiangsu Province, but Hu declined to provide further details.

She said officials are still doing their best to get in touch with Chinese nationals in Thailand and to offer them help.

So far, four Chinese residents are known to have been killed, two from Taiwan Province, one from Hong Kong and one from Jiangsu Province, the Foreign Ministry has confirmed.

Meanwhile, China Central Television Station said it has cancelled a New Year's Eve gala programme out of respect for the tsunami victims.

The Buddhist Association of China also sent condolences over the heavy loss of lives to the affected countries.

The association has called on the Chinese Buddhist circles to hold prayer services and planned to send donations to the countries most hit by the earthquake and resulting tsunami, Xinhua said, citing association Vice-President Sheng Hui.

Government departments have also pledged to offer more emergency relief in Asian countries hit by the waves.

The Ministry of Education has called on universities nationwide to take care of overseas students from the disaster-hit countries, the ministry's Department for International Co-operation and Exchanges indicated.

Ibra Lebbe Fajrutheen, an urban planning and design major from Sir Lanka, has received help from the Shanghai-based Tongji University.

The disaster killed two of his sisters and eight other relatives. Another sister is still missing and he said he hopes to go back home for funerals.

The university donated 5,000 yuan (US$602) to Fajrutheen and bought him an air ticket to return.

He will leave for his country next Wednesday, said Chen Qiang, who oversees needs of the foreign students at the university.

The local public security departments have also provided assistance to expedite Fajrutheen's visa.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the nation's civil aviation watchdog, has urged domestic aviation enterprises and regional administrations to guarantee transportation of relief supplies to disaster areas.

The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) has offered to donate a number of relief items via local Chinese embassies.

Meanwhile, another dozen doctors and epidemic control experts left for Phuket Island from South China's Guangdong Province on Friday.

China is very willing to provide medical support to help people in the disaster-hit areas, said Deng Haihua, director of the Ministry of Health's news office.

Non-governmental efforts also joined in. The Red Cross Society of China has raised its pledge for aid, offering another US$340,000, giving a total of US$640,000.

Chinese enterprises are also showing concern. Guangdong-based TCL Corporation on Friday donated 3 million yuan (US$362,700) to the affected countries.

Charis Zhao, vice-president of the company, said they will continue raising money by holding a charity bazaar for the benefit.

Source: China Daily