The donations of ordinary people also must be taken into account. The British public have out stripped the donations made by the govt - Mephisto may find this artcle worthy of note in regard to previous comments.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4136545.stm
UK tsunami donations reach £45m
The UN is pleading for the world's help
The British public has donated £45m to help the victims of the Asian tsunami, say relief charities.
Up to £1m an hour has been donated and the government has raised its pledge from £15m to £50m, making it one of the largest international donors.
A three-minute silence is to be held on Wednesday to remember the 124,000 known to have died - including 34 Britons.
The Queen has sent a New Year message of thanks to British charity workers and those who have made donations.
She said: "The dreadful events in Asia have shocked us all. No one could fail to be moved by the pictures we have seen of the devastation across the region.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost family or friends, and also with those who still await news of loved ones who are missing."
The Queen added she had been impressed by the willingness of Britons to help through "donations, time, money or help with the relief effort on the ground".
Some people are coming off the flights in just their boxer shorts and with no luggage
On Friday alone £13m was received by the Tsunami Earthquake Appeal, set up by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella group for leading charities.
Brendan Gormley, the DEC chief executive, said the response to TV and radio appeals had been "absolutely phenomenal".
"But it really doesn't end here. The scale of this disaster means that the recovery process will be very long term and we really would encourage people to continue giving," he said.
He urged people to make internet donations where possible, because they are received immediately.
The website, which has been strengthened to cope with demand, has been receiving more than 11,000 donations an hour.
The DEC is also providing thousands of telephone lines for people to give donations - by calling 0870 60 60 900.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been donated by British businesses and organisations.
The English Premiership's 20 football clubs have donated £1m to the quake fund, with Birmingham City striker Dwight Yorke calling for all the top division's stars to give a week's wages to the relief effort. The England cricket team donated £15,000.
Announcing the increased government donation, Chancellor Gordon Brown said: "We will do all we can in the weeks and months ahead to ease the suffering of the millions left homeless, orphaned and vulnerable, and to help the rebuilding of their communities."
HOW TO DONATE
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is an umbrella group of UK charities including, among others, British Red Cross, Cafod, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund
Call them on 0870 60 60 900 or donate online at
www.dec.org.uk
By the end of the week people should be able to donate cash or cheques - made payable to the DEC Tsunami Earthquake Appeal - at High Street banks.
Cash or cheques (made payable to Post Office Ltd) can be donated over the counter at Post Office branches.
Other bodies raising money include the Muslim groups Muslim Aid (020 7377 4200) and Islamic Relief (0121 622 0622) and the Hindu charities Sewa International 0116 261 0303 and the ISKCON Disaster Appeal on 01923 856848.
Sri Lankan organisations including Asia Quake Relief Appeal UK (asia-quakerelief@europe.com) are also raising money
The government has also pledged to meet the costs of transporting any items bought with appeal funds.
And on Friday it announced the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Diligence and frigate HMS Chatham were heading to the disaster area, aiming to arrive on Tuesday to help with the relief effort.
International Development Secretary Hilary Benn told BBC News: "There is a reconnaissance team now going to the region and they will advise on where these ships can be best be deployed."
HMS Chatham has Lynx helicopters on board which will be used to transport supplies and an RAF C17 transport plane will be used to help move relief supplies.
Some Britons injured in the disaster say they will stay on to help with the aid effort.
David Holborn, 54, from Romford, Essex was swept off Kata Noi beach, near Phuket, and his wife Sophia have been helping with local fundraising events.
"We lost everything, but we are safe," said Mr Holborn.
"If you see what they have lost, it breaks your heart ... I want to help these people."
The British High Commissioner in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, Steven Evans, said there was a "very good chance" many of those reported missing were still alive.
He said: "Very often, people are thought to be missing but, in fact, they are safe and that fact hasn't become clear to the authorities.
"Alternatively they've moved elsewhere in the island and have yet to report in."
'Money is the best way to help'
Food was beginning to arrive with those who needed it most, he said.
Religious leaders are increasing their efforts to persuade people to contribute as much as they can.
An appeal for donations is being read out in more than 400 mosques across the UK on Friday and many churches are planning weekend collections.
Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh groups have also been raising money.
The Foreign Office is chartering extra passenger planes back to Britain to cope with the demand from stranded tourists.
It has set up an emergency helpline - 020 7008 0000 - for people worried about missing relatives.