Australians' private donations for the Indian Ocean tsunami-hit countries surpassed the 100 million Australian dollars mark (US$76.5 million) on Wednesday.

The total equates to 5 Australian dollars (US$3.83) for each Australian, ranking Australia among the most generous countries in the world, Australian Associated Press reported.

More than 20 million Australian dollars (US$15.2 million) were collected in the past two days after banks reopened and major corporations got back to work on Tuesday after the long weekend.

Ninety-five percent of the total has been raised by the six most prominent aid agencies, with about half of the total, or 49 million Australian dollars (US$37.5 million), collected by the Red Cross.

World Vision has raised 22 million Australian dollars (US$16.83 million), CARE Australia 15 million Australian dollars (US$11.48 million), Oxfam Community Aid Abroad 10 million Australian dollars (US$7.65 million) and Caritas Australia 2.5 million Australian dollars (US$1.91 million).

It was estimated that Australian businesses have given 15 to 20 percent of the total. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2005)