Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen sent his condolences to his
counterparts around South Asia and NOK 10 million (1.5 million euros) was
immediately set aside to help humanitarian work in Sri Lanka, the Norwegian
Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
"It is with deep sorrow that we have received the news of the loss of
thousands of lives and heavy damage that the tidal wave inSouth Asia has
caused," Petersen said.
He said the foreign ministry also had set up a crisis team to get an overview
of the situation and send aid to Norwegians hit bythe catastrophe.
More than 3,000 Norwegians are believed to have been on holidayin Thailand or
visiting other parts of Asia when Sunday's killer tidal wave battered countries
around the Indian Ocean.
Ten were reported dead on Monday morning. Eight of those who died were in
Thailand, while the other two were killed in Sri Lanka, according to officials
at Norway's Foreign Ministry.
Hilde Frafjord Johnson, the cabinet minister in charge of foreign aid, said
further assistance will be evaluated when needs become more clear. She said her
staff was in contact with the United Nations to coordinate humanitarian aid.
Travel insurance firm Europeiske Reiseforsikring sent a medicalteam to
Phuket, Thailand, Sunday evening, including a crisis psychologist, to aid
tourists.
"We view the situation as chaotic, and still don't know how many Norwegian
tourists there are covered by us," said Ivar Leren of the travel insurance firm.
"We have therefore chosen to offer first aid at the site, before we can start
bringing the injured home."
The Norwegian Seaman's Church in Bangkok also was sending personnel to Phuket
to aid Norwegian travelers.
Foreign ministry officials were warning against traveling to the area. Tour
operators in Norway were meeting Monday to decide what they should do with all
their scheduled departures.