BANGKOK, Dec. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- International aid teams and financial assistance have begun to pour in the tsunamis-ravaged southern Thailand, officials and local media said Thursday.

    A UN disaster assistance and coordination team flew to southernresort island of Phuket Wednesday night in a bid to assist with relief operations in the region.

    Consisting of five specialists in disaster relief coordination,medical support, telecommunications and information, the team wereaccompanied by the UN resident coordinator in Thailand and representatives from United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization.

    The Italian Embassy in Bangkok sent a medical team to Phuket onMonday and a field hospital operative Thursday. An eight-member forensic team arrived at the island Wednesday.

    According to The Nation newspaper, the Japanese government willdispatch three Self Defense Force vessels, two destroyers and a supply ship to Phuket carrying helicopters. A search and rescue team left Japan for Thailand on Wednesday while a 20-member medical team is heading to the island on Thursday.

    The Britain government pledged 1.1 billion baht (26.2 million US dollars) aid for the kingdom. The first phase of 15 million pounds will be given out Thursday.

    Crickets from Australia donated their prize money from the Boxing Day test to the disaster relief funds. The figure was about518,146 baht (some 12,336 US dollars).

    The Chinese ambassador to Thailand on Wednesday handed over to the Thai government a financial aid of 30,000 US dollars to help with the country's relief efforts. Enditem