Government funding for tsunami victims doubled

The Government is to allocate a further €10m to help the victims of the Indian Ocean disaster.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern made the announcement from Sri Lanka as he ended his three-day visit to the stricken region.

Minister Ahern had been visiting the region accompanied by the chief executives of Concern, Goal, Trocaire and the Irish Red Cross.

In a statement released by his department the Minister has said after witnessing the devastation at first hand it was clear that more money needed to be pumped into the relief effort to help with the recovery and reconstruction operation.

Mr Ahern also announced the availability of Irish troops should the UN wish to avail of their services.

This brings total Government funding to €20 million.