The government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) said on Tuesday that it will support the Macao Red Cross's effort to participate in the disaster relief operation and post-disaster reconstruction in China's quake-stricken Qinghai Province.

The SAR government has discussed the matter with the Macao Red Cross, which will submit a proposal concerning the reconstruction in the disaster zone to the government after consulting with the Red Cross Society of China, according to a press release issued by the SAR government.

The death toll has exceeded 2,000 after the Yushu County in Qinghai province, northwest China, was struck by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake on April 14, according to the earthquake relief headquarter in Yushu.

Meanwhile, the SAR government also announced that Macao will join the whole nation Wednesday in mourning the victims of the earthquake disaster. All public amusement activities will be suspended, including a grand ceremony of a new casino resort.

On Monday, the SAR government announced its decision to provide an amount of 100 million yuan (15 million U.S. dollars) as quake- relief fund for China's Qinghai province.

Aside from the government funds, the Macao Red Cross has already offered 300,000 patacas (37,500 dollars) as emergent quake- relief fund to the disaster area in Yushu, and dispatched personnel to Xining, capital of Qinghai province, to purchase relief supplies with a total cost of 250,000 patacas (31,250 dollars).

The organization has so far received a total donation of over 2. 75 million patacas (343,750 dollars) from local communities.

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