Red Cross tsunami appeal tops $20m

The Red Cross appeal for the Boxing Day tsunami relief has reached nearly $20 million.

New Zealand Red Cross director-general Andrew Weeks said the Government would give a $9 million top-up to the public donations total of close to $11 million.

He said the New Zealand contribution would assist international Red Cross relief efforts, which are expected to span several years in the areas of southern Asia worst-affected by the tsunami.

"We welcome the decision to allocate the matched funding on an equal basis across all the agencies that applied,'' Mr Weeks said in a statement yesterday.

"New Zealand Red Cross values the balanced relationship, long-term commitment and support that it has received from the New Zealand Government.''

Mr Weeks reaffirmed that all money donated would go directly to the appeal as Red Cross administration costs for special appeals were covered by income from Red Cross shops and first aid training.

"New Zealand Red Cross is hugely grateful to all New Zealanders who have contributed so generously to our South Asia Tsunami Appeal, and helped us to raise almost five times the amount ever raised for any previous emergency appeal.''

The biggest previous New Zealand Red Cross emergency appeal raised $4.2 million for the Rwanda crisis in 1995, he said.

- NZPA