The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization on Thursday called for 26 million dollars urgent aid for farmers and fishers in tsunami-hit areas.

"Fisheries and aquaculture are the sectors most seriously hit by the disaster with a devastating effect on many millions of mostly small-scale fishers who are dependent on a daily fish catch for food and sale," said Fernanda Guerrieri, chief of FAO's Emergency Operations Service.

"The need for emergency rehabilitation of agriculture and fisheries in the region is enormous and will be definitely much higher than the amount we are asking for now," Guerrieri was quoted by a FAO press release as saying.

The UN agency therefore has launched an urgent appeal for US$26 million for affected farmers and fisher folk at the international meeting held in Jakarta on the disaster's aftermath, according to the release issued in Bangkok on Thursday.

FAO's initial call for international assistance is part of the United Nations flash appeal for tsunami victims in Asia.

FAO has already provided a total of around US$1.5 million from its own funds.

The agency estimated that Indonesia and Sri Lanka each needs US$10 million for agricultural and fisheries emergency projects in next six months, while Maldive needs around US$2 million to start the rehabilitation of the marine fisheries sector and agriculture infrastructure.

Other affected countries, including Somalia, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Kenya, Tanzania and Malaysia, are also in need of fund to rehabilitate fisheries and agriculture in disaster-hit areas.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2005)