Taiwan said Sunday it will further raise its donation to tsunami-hit Asian countries to 50 million from 5 million U.S. dollars as the death toll rises to at least 150,000. "The decision to boost the fund was made during an ad-hoc committee meeting to discuss how Taiwan can help those tsunami-struck nations," said Cabinet spokesman Chen Chi-mai. Chen said the donation will include 20 million dollars in rice aid, 15 million dollars in medical aid and 15 million dollars in reconstruction aid. Taiwan has already formed a team of 200 medical staffers and doctors and sent them to Indonesia, Thailand and other countries in need. Taiwanese Buddhist and Christian groups and non-governmental organizations are raising funds and collecting relief material for the victims of the devastating quakes and resulting tsunamis. The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation has also sent a medical team and two tons (2.032 tonnes) of medicine and aid to Sri Lanka. Tzu Chi volunteers in Indonesia and Thailand have bought aid material locally and rushed them to Indonesia's Aceh Province and Thailand's Phuket Island.
