The global Red Cross issued an emergency appeal on Sunday for immediate aid to hundreds of thousands of people stricken by the tsunamis in South-East Asia. The Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand were among the countries for which aid was earmarked. It said it was seeking an initial and immediate 7.5 million Swiss francs ($6.5 million) and said about half a million people were affected in Sri Lanka alone, but that reliable information was still very hard to come by across the region. "This is a preliminary appeal. It will be revised after exact needs are evaluated," said Simon Missiri, head of the federation's Asia Pacific department. The United States said it would offer "all appropriate assistance" to Asian countries, with some aid already on its way to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The European Union pledged an initial three million euros ($4 million) and local news agency Belga said Belgium had allocated its own 500,000 euros in emergency aid to be distributed by Red Cross bodies and the EU. --More 2230 Local Time 1930 GMT
