The government disaster relief funds for earthquake-stricken areas had hit 19.56 billion yuan (2.79 billion US dollars) as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, up 3.6 billion yuan from the previous day, according to the Information Office of the State Council.

The fund included 15.39 billion yuan from the central budget and 4.17 billion yuan from the local budget, the office said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2008)