BEIJING, Mar. 31 -- Aid supplies and medical equipment have started to arrive in the earthquake affected areas of Indonesia, where more than 1,000 people are feared dead.

    As Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, prepares to visit the island of Nias, the hardest hit area, the world is again rallying to support the country which also bore the brunt of the December 26 tsunami.

Buildings damaged an earthquake in the capital city of Nias island, Gunungsitoli, in North Sumatra.(Reuters)

    Earlier, the Indonesian government announced it welcomes foreign military help to recover from its second big disaster in just over three months.

    China, Australia and European Union countries have been among the first to offer cash and medical relief support to Indonesia following Monday's earthquake.

    China has pledged a 500-thousand dollar aid package to Indonesia while President Hu Jintao has expressed his condolences to the victims of the powerful quake.

    A senior Chinese seismologist, Chen Hong, explains what aid China is offering to the damaged regions in Indonesia.

    "As usual, we will first collect information about the damage from the quake. Then the Foreign Ministry will contact the Indonesian embassy in Beijing to ask them whether they need help."

    The Red Cross Society of China has also decided to allocate 300 thousand US dollars to its Indonesian counterpart for emergency relief.

    The quake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale struck late on Monday off the coast of Sumatra. The hardest hit areas were the islands of Nias and Simeulue.

    Disaster teams from the United Nations and Oxfam have reached Nias, which has been declared to be in a state of emergency.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)