Equipment firms provide tsunami aid.

Makers of heavy equipment have provided help to parts of Asia stricken by the late December earthquake and tsunamis that have claimed as many as 140,000 lives.

Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill., says its dealers in the Asia Pacific region "have made equipment, personnel and other resources available to aid in recovery and cleanup efforts." The Caterpillar Foundation has committed $1 million to ongoing relief and recovery efforts in the region.

Additionally, the company also announced that donations to relief efforts by Caterpillar employees, retirees, Caterpillar directors and employees of Caterpillar dealers will be matched by the company up to $2,000 per person.

U.K.-based JOB Inc., with U.S. offices in Savannah, Ga., sent an initial $1 million worth of machines to help disaster relief efforts in the wake of the tsunami and airlifted machines to remote areas.

The John Deere Foundation, the philanthropic organization of Deere & Co., will provide $1 million to support ongoing relief and restoration efforts related to the Asian earthquake and tsunami disaster. Foundation officials say the money will be provided for international relief efforts through the American Red Cross.