The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, created by the Dell Computer founder, announced Friday it was providing an initial three million dollars to relief efforts.

"We in the United States understand first-hand what it means to receive support from across the globe in times of crisis. Now it is our turn to show the people of southern Asia how much we care for their survival and well-being," said Michael Dell.

"We encourage people in our country and everywhere to find in their hearts to give generously to these people and the relief efforts."

The General Motors Foundation said it was kicking in one million dollars cash to the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross for victims of the tidal wave disaster.

GM said it would match donations from its employees, providing up to an additional one million dollars, and would donate vehicles to assist relief crews.

"All of us are stunned by the magnitude of this unprecedented natural disaster, and we mourn the loss of life and the devastation it has brought to so many people," said GM chairman and chief executive Rick Wagoner.

The announcements from Dell and GM came the same day the US government boosted in relief contribution tenfold to 350 million dollars. Millions more were coming from other charitable groups including Americares, religious charities and the American Red Cross.

Earlier announcements came this week from big US firms including Wal-Mart, Pfizer and Citigroup, with smaller companies also chipping in.

Internet giant Yahoo said that its promotion of charity efforts on its website led to the collection of 1.2 million dollars in 18 hours.

Individual Americans were making donations, some through collection efforts at stores including the Safeway supermarket chain.

Safeway said it would make its own contribution by matching any donations from employees.

The full amount of private US contributions was not know. But Americans using their credit cards were donating a total of about one million dollars a day to relief organizations through Network for Good, a nonprofit portal for charities created by America Online.

"The advantage of a service like Network for Good is that we provide a donor with the ability to give to multiple organizations rather than just one," said chief executive Bill Strathmann.

"Also, unlike many of the organizations receiving donations, our system is built to handle the peaks in volume that we experience in crucial times such as these."

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