Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai decided on Thursday that Vietnam will provide humanitarian aid for the four countries which were hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunamis on Dec. 26.

Indonesia will be provided with US$150,000, and Thailand, India and Sri Lanka will be granted US$100,000 each, according to the report of Vietnam News Agency.

The PM ordered the Ministry of Public Health to prepare health workers and medicine and diarrhea vaccines to send to the calamity-stricken countries if requested.

On the same day, the Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee launched a campaign to raise money and goods forthe tsunami victims. They appealed to people in the country and overseas Vietnamese for contributions, adding that the government,together with other nations, has sent aid workers and relief to disaster area.

Vietnam's President Tran Duc Luong also sent a message of condolence to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar, over the great loss to his country of lives and properties caused by the Dec. 26 earthquake and tidal wave. 

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2004)