17 Jan 2004

Cyclone-stricken countries receive more assistance

9:17 am on 17 January 2004

The Red Cross in American Samoa is being given its first major donation for the Cyclone Heta relief drive.

The Bank of Hawaii is presenting a 15,000 US dollar check as Red Cross volunteers continue helping those displaced by the cyclone.

Meanwhile, China has given Samoa 100,000 US dollars for rehabilitation work following the destruction caused by cyclone Heta last week.

This was announced by the Chinese embassy.

It also says that the China Red Cross will send 20,000 US dollars to the Samoa Red Cross.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser in the Cook Islands is reported to have collected more than 60,000 US dollars for cyclone victims in Niue.

And a French military plane has flown to Niue from New Caledonia, carrying a large satellite dish to replace the one destroyed by Cyclone Heta.