As of noon on Saturday, domestic and foreign donations for earthquake survivors had reached 26.1 billion yuan (3.73 billion U.S. dollars), up 1.5 billion yuan from the previous day, according to the Information Office of the State Council.

Of the total, 3.68 billion yuan had been forwarded to the disaster area, the office said.

Meanwhile, 448,140 tents had been delivered, said Lu Guangjin, an official with the office.

Also, 35,458 makeshift houses, 2,419,347 quilts and 3,304,526 garments had been sent to the region, he said.

About 336,000 tons of fuel and 723,000 tons of coal were sent to the region as well, he noted.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2008)