LA PAZ, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Monday he and his cabinet will donate part of their pay to families left homeless by the devastating earthquake that rocked neighboring Peru last week killing over 500 people.
"Peru has always shown solidarity toward us, and the first contribution I'd like to announce is that the president and vice president will donate 50 percent of their salaries," Morales told a news conference in La Paz.
Leftist leader Morales, the Andean country's first Indian president, said all ministers and deputy ministers will donate 25 percent of this month's salaries and invited all Bolivians to contribute to emergency funds.
Wednesday's 8.0 magnitude quake devastated several cities on Peru's central-Pacific coast, and getting emergency supplies to tens of thousands of people left homeless has become a logistical nightmare for the Peruvian government.
Argentina and other Latin American countries have sent aircraft full of medicines, food, water, tents, clothes and blankets to Peru.
"International aid is not always enough when there is a natural disaster, but a small contribution will always help the families affected by the earthquake," Morales said.
