41 Nations Assist Thailand's Tsunami Relief Effort

41 nations assist Thailand's tsunami relief effort

PHUKET: -- Thailand has received donations and assistance from 41 nations and 10 international organizations to help with its tsunami relief effort, Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula revealed today.

Mr. Bhokin made the announcement after holding talks with a delegation from Switzerland led by Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, who travelled to the country's southern resort province of Phuket to express her condolences to Thailand.

Around 20 Swiss nationals are thought to have been killed by last Sunday's tsunamis, while scores more are still missing.

The Swiss delegation was scheduled to travel to hospitals around Phuket to visit survivors.

The unprecedented tsunamis on 26 December hit the kingdom's six southern provinces of Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun, leaving nearly 5,000 dead, with over 10,000 injured and over 6,000 more still missing so far.

--TNA 2005-01-01