As of Wednesday noon, donations from home and abroad to China's quake-hit regions had reached 43.68 billion yuan (about US$6.24 billion), up 1.32 billion yuan from the previous day, according to the State Council Information Office.

So far, 12.67 billion yuan, in cash and relief materials, had been forwarded to the earthquake-affected areas, the office said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2008)