NEW YORK - THE world has shown unprecedented compassion and raised nearly US$2 billion (S$3.2 billion) for the countries hit by Sunday's tsunamis, the UN emergency relief coordinator said yesterday, but said logistical bottlenecks are a nightmare. The amount, which includes contributions from 40 countries and the World Bank, is larger than what was pledged in all of the other humanitarian emergencies worldwide in 2004, Mr Jan Egeland said at a press conference.
'It is the biggest outpouring of relief ever in such a short time,' he said. 'The international compassion has never ever been like this.'
Just five days ago, the UN official who is directing the day-to-day operation of what is believed to be the largest international relief effort in history had criticised the relief effort as 'stingy'.
The money pooled was enough for the relief workers to feed, clothe, and provide emergency medical services to 'the clear majority' of those affected for the next few months, he said.
His comments came as Japan said it would increase its funding pledge to US$500 million from US$30 million, making it the single largest contributor in the relief efforts.
The money pooled was enough for the relief workers to feed, clothe, and provide emergency medical services to 'the clear majority' of those affected for the next few months, he said.
His comments came as Japan said it would increase its funding pledge to US$500 million from US$30 million, making it the single largest contributor in the relief efforts.
On Friday, the United States raised its contribution from US$35 million to US$350 million and Mr Egeland noted that it was doing a 'phenomenal job'.
Still, he said 'much more is needed' in providing health care and water for the long term as well as for the massive rebuilding efforts ahead.
'We will need to feed over one million people in Indonesia alone,' he noted.
He said he could not say exactly how long those affected would need the supplies but that it would be for months and not weeks.
Rattling off a list of the kind of relief equipment and supplies that were needed, he mentioned, in particular, helicopters, cargo planes, boats, trucks and fuel transportation and storage equipment.
'Military assets are as valuable as cash or gold because they let us get there in the race against the clock,' he said.
The wish list for relief was unlike others in previous humanitarian appeals because roads and airstrips had been so badly damaged in so many areas, he said.
Food and medical relief had begun arriving.
But obstacles - including a lack of coordination, fuel shortages, rough weather, airport logjams and impassable roads - prevented the distribution of aid to some of the most devastated areas in the 11 affected Asian and African nations.
Another senior United Nations relief official said the level of destruction in Indonesia's Aceh province and security concerns in an area of political conflict have combined to slow aid deliveries to survivors of the earthquake and tsunami disaster there.
'We haven't even got basic warehouse facilities remaining because of the level of damage,' said Dr David Nabarro, head of crisis operations at the World Health Organisation.
'The issues are logistic. This is what we expected. It will be some days before we can deal with that.'
Mr Nabarro said a further toll of 50,000 from disease and other causes would be in line with that seen in previous humanitarian emergencies. -- AP, AFP
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