UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday announced the allocation of 15 million U.S. dollars to bolster relief assistance for people affected by the magnitude-7.5 earthquake and tsunami that struck Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Friday.

The money from the Central Emergency Response Fund will support UN agencies already on the ground to help respond to key priorities identified by the Indonesian government and assist the tens of thousands of people in need, said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock.

The funds will allow UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to support the government-led response in the areas of logistics, shelter, safe water and sanitation, health care, camp coordination and camp management, emergency livelihoods and protection services, said Lowcock, who is also UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs.