As of Friday noon, donations from home and abroad to China's quake-hit regions had reached 30.9 billion yuan (4.4 billion US dollars), up 1.8 billion yuan from the previous day, according to the Information Office of the State Council.

So far, 9 billion yuan, in cash and relief materials, had been forwarded to the earthquake-affected areas, the office said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2008)