Grants approved for earthquake and tsunami victims in Indonesia

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved from the Disaster Relief Fund two grants totalling $8.8 million to two agencies for providing relief to earthquake and tsunami victims in Indonesia.

     Announcing the grants today (November 20), a spokesman for the Government said that the two grants, one of $5.8 million to World Vision Hong Kong and one of $3 million to Save the Children Hong Kong, will be used to provide food, household and hygiene items as well as education kits, to benefit around 62 700 earthquake and tsunami victims in Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. As the targeted localities of the two relief agencies are different, there will be no overlapping of resources. The Committee hopes the grants will facilitate the provision of timely relief to the victims and help them restore their normal living.

     "To ensure that the money is used for the designated purposes, the relief agencies will be asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed," the spokesman said.