The Chinese government on Wednesday donated an emergency aid of US$200,000 to the Myanmar government for victims and relief undertakings in tsunami-hit areas of the country.

Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun, representing the Chinese government, handed over the 200,000 dollars in cash to Myanmar Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Major-General Sein Htwa.

Representing the Myanmar government and victims, Sein Htwa expressed thanks to the Chinese government and its people for the donation.

At the donation ceremony, he confirmed that 64 people were killed, 56 injured and 29 villages destroyed, leaving 3,460 people homeless, in the tsunami triggered by a powerful Indian Ocean earthquake on Dec. 26, 2004.

There was no heavy number of casualties as some foreign media reported and estimated, he said, adding that there was no casualties in Cocogyun island, where 976 people live.

Rescue operation is underway by the Myanmar government, he added.

On Dec. 31, 2004, the Red Cross Society of China also donated 20,000 dollars in cash to its Myanmar counterpart for victims and their rehabilitation in the disaster-effected areas in the country.
 
(People's Daily Online January 5, 2005)