CANBERRA, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Monday announced Australia will increase its assistance to quake-ravaged South Asian nations by 5 million Australian dollars (3.8 million US dollars).

    Australia on Sunday initially offered 500,000 Australian dollars (380,000 US dollars) in medical and relief assistance to help victims in Saturday's strong earthquake.

    About 20,000 people have been killed and 42,000 people injured in the 7.6 magnitude quake, which epicentered in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

    "We'll initially be providing an additional 5 million (Australian dollars) now to international aid agencies, the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, the United Nations organizations, to focus on the provision of basic shelter, food and potable water," he told reporters here.

    "These will be the immediate and most urgent needs that we can help to address," he said.

    "I just want to emphasize that this (money) is for the time being, and we'll have a look at whether there is substantially more we can do in a practical way," he said. Enditem