Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said his country would pay for the education of 38,000 Indonesian children orphaned by the tsunami disaster as he toured the worst-hit area.

Badawi told reporters in Banda Aceh, the capital of the Sumatra island province of Aceh, worst-hit by the earthquake and giant tsunamis, that the help would come in addition to US$5.2 million already given by his country.

"The government is also prepared to help bear the education costs for 38,000 orphans of the tsunami and I have already discussed this with the Indonesian president," he said.

"Malaysia will continue to provide aid to the victims of the tsunami. Both the Malaysian government and the Malaysian people."

Badawi, whose visit coincided with a tour by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was "saddened and taken aback" by the devestation he saw in the region.

The Indonesian government has announced a ban on adoption of children from the province, amid a number of reports that human traffickers were spiriting children out of Aceh.