The United Nations will give emergency aid to the four poorest countries struck by the Asia-wide bird flu epidemic, a UN body said on Tuesday, adding it hoped the money would prompt others to help battle the crisis.

The Food and Agriculture Organization said in a statement it would hand out a total of $1.6 million to Cambodia, Laos, Pakistan and Viet Nam.

"These projects are seed money for immediate help," FAO Asia-Pacific chief He Changchui was quoted as saying in the statement. "More international assistance is needed to enable poorer countries to better deal with the crisis."

One main problem that has emerged, most publicly in Indonesia, is being able to pay poor farmers enough to persuade them to slaughter flocks on which many depend for their livelihoods.

The Indonesian government said initially it could not afford to pay compensation, but reversed its position under international pressure. Most experts advocate mass slaughter as the best means of halting the epidemic.

The FAO said its money, among other things, would help governments to train people to dispose of slaughtered birds safely and provide them with protective gear.

International organizations have been aghast at the sight of people disposing of possibly infected poultry with little or no protection from the virus, which has killed at least 12 people in Vietnam and Thailand.

At least one Thai is suspected of dying from bird flu picked up while disposing of dead poultry.

Close

Today's Top News		Top International News
+WHO: Bird flu death rises to 15; vaccination recommended ( 2004-02-05) +Solana: EU ready to lift China arms embargo ( 2004-02-05) +Nation tops TV, cell phone, monitor production ( 2004-02-05) +Absence ... still makes China hot ( 2004-02-05) +Hu: Developing world in key role ( 2004-02-04)		+WHO: Bird flu death rises to 15; vaccination recommended ( 2004-02-05) +Solana: EU ready to lift China arms embargo ( 2004-02-05) +US Mass. court clears way for gay marriages ( 2004-02-05) +Pakistan nuke scientist asks forgiveness ( 2004-02-05) +Sharon ready for referendum on scrapping settlements ( 2004-02-05)