France has offered 3 million euros (about 4 million US dollars) for
tsunami-hit regions in Asia to help provide clean drinking water, the Ecology
Ministry announced Sunday.
The ministry said six public water-dealing companies in France will jointly
provide this money. The French government has earlierdonated 41 million euros
(56 million dollars) for tsunami-batteredcountries.
The Ecology Ministry and Foreign Ministry will hold a meeting on Monday with
the six companies, 15 human groups and representatives of local administrations
to discuss how to help tsunami-hit regions in Asia clean drinking water.
The lack of clean drinking water poses a potential threat for the health of
the survivors in the tsunami-hit regions. In Sri Lanka alone, there are 1.5
million homeless people. France will provide a batch of equipment to clean
drinking water. About 50 pieces will be in Sri Lanka.
The Defense Ministry said Sunday that the country will dispatchtwo vessels,
five helicopters and a plane with water-cleaning equipment and medicines.
A 16-people medical team will fly to the tsunami-hit regions toprovide
emergency medical care. In addition, a field hospital witha staff of 72 was
dispatched to Indonesia Sunday.
Twenty-two French citizens were confirmed dead and 99 are stillmissing in the
Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.