Materials-handling companies worldwide have rallied around tsunami victims with donations of cash and equipment.

JCB is donating USD1 million of machines, available through JCB India and its dealers in the affected region.

JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said his company would make available "as many machines as (it) can to help in the clear up efforts".

"JCB has machines which suit the conditions to enable us to help swiftly in the disaster relief and it is important we do as much as we can ... If it takes more than USD1 million, we stand ready to help," Bamford said.

Meanwhile, Raymond Corporation will donate USD100 for each electric rider truck and USD50 for each electric walkie pallet truck sold in January and February.

The cash contributions will go to the US effort to provide relief to tsunami victims.

The Linde Technology Group is supplying free medical gases to Thai hospitals to treat casualties.

It is also providing logistics equipment to "Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen" (Aviation without Frontiers) to transport aid supplies.

Komatsu has pledged JPY200 million (USD1.9 million) of aid to tsunami-ravaged areas.

The Japanese company donated construction equipment and sent operators in concert with its local subsidiaries and distributors in South-East Asia.