Ricky Martin lends a hand

2005-01-12 09:40

Bangkok - Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin met with Thai officials on Wednesday to discuss the fate of children orphaned by the killer tsunami that struck the country's southwest coast.

Martin, who has lent his celebrity to help the United Nations Children's Fund, said he would make a donation to help Thai orphans through his foundation, according to a government spokesperson.

The Ricky Martin Foundation runs a project to help combat trafficking of humans, especially children.

The singer of such hits as She Bangs and Livin' La Vida Loca met with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, the deputy government spokesperson told reporters.

"Ricky expressed his concern for Thailand," Yuranant Pamornmontree said.

"He said after he visited the tsunami-hit area he will make a donation in the name of his foundation," the spokesperson said.

Martin was due to visit the Thai Red Cross Society later on Wednesday, and then leave on Thursday for Phuket, where he will tour Patong and Kamala beaches, devastated by the tsunami, the foreign ministry said.

Martin will on Friday visit Thai orphans at Bang Muang temple in Phang Nga province and Yan Yao temple before heading back to Bangkok, he added.

Rock star Sting was also in Bangkok on Wednesday to perform a concert scheduled before the tsunami hit.

Sting planned to donate $20 000 to tsunami victims, while the concert organisers planned to give another $50 000, newspapers here reported.

The Indian Ocean tsunami that hit six provinces in southwest Thailand killed more than 5 300 people here.

More than 300 Thai children lost one or both parents in the tsunami, government officials said last week.

- AFP