TOKYO, Jan 1 (AFP) - Japan on Saturday promised 500 million dollars to countries devastated by tsunamis, by far outpledging all other countries which are racing to help victims of one of the world's worst disasters.

The Japanese contribution raises to more than 1.6 billion dollars the money raised for relief and reconstruction from massive seismic waves, which have claimed nearly 126,000 lives.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Japan, Asia's largest economy, would consider more assistance both in money and expertise.

"Japan will provide assistance to

Outbreaks of cholera and dysentery especially in the Indonesian region of Aceh in northern Sumatra raised fears that the total death toll for the 12 countries hit by the disaster - already expected to reach 150,000 - could rise even further. About 100,000 were believed killed in Indonesia alone, the U.N. had said Friday.

Meanwhile, world leaders and international

The extra amount brings the total funds released by the EU to help regions devastated by the disaster in south Asia to 23 million euros (31 million dollars), the EU's executive arm said.

On Tuesday the EU had earmarked 10 million euros for India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and a further three million

That was more than all of the pledges to all humanitarian appeals in 2004 combined, Jan Egeland, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, told a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.

The international compassion had never ever been like this, Mr. Egeland said, noting that Japan's extremely generous

• Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, the Special Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance to Tsunami affected communities, arrived in Sri Lanka.
  
• A consolidated regional UN Flash Appeal is scheduled to be launched on 6 January 2005.
  
• As of 1 January 2005, USD 982 million has been reported to OCHA as pledged or committed contributions for the victims for the tsunami-affected communities. (This figure does not include

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

In Brief

Revised Preliminary Appeal No. 28/2004; Operations Update no. 4;
Period covered: 30-31 December, 2004; Appeal coverage: provisionally 99.2%

Appeal history:

· Preliminary appeal launched on 26 December 2004 CHF 7,517,000 (USD 6,658,712 or EUR 4,852,932) for 6 months to assist 500,000 beneficiaries.

· Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 1,000,000.

· Revised Preliminary Appeal issued on 30 December 2004, for CHF 67,005,000 (USD 59,152,246 or EUR 53,439,988) for 2 million beneficiaries for 6-8 months.

The US leader said in a statement that because the needs of stricken populations would increase in the weeks ahead, "I am today committing 350 million dollars to fund the US portion of the relief effort.

"Our contributions will continue to be revised as the full effects of this terrible tragedy become clearer."

Deputy White House spokesman Trent Duffy

The appeal was contained in a statement issued responding to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescents Societies to raise 50 million Swiss francs (about 44 million US dollars).

The statement also said the Uganda Red Cross has set up an information desk through which people could link up