The government disaster relief fund for earthquake-stricken areas had hit 20.94 billion yuan (2.99 billion US dollars) as of Thursday noon, up 1.38 billion yuan from the previous day, according to the Information Office of the State Council.

The fund included 16.69 billion yuan from the central budget and 4.25 billion yuan from the local budget, the office said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2008)