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| Tuesday, 28 December 2004 |
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World scrambles to help tidal wave victims UNITED NATIONS, Monday (AFP) The United Nations rushed disaster teams to Asian countries hit by tsunami wave devastation Sunday as governments and aid groups sent money and rescuers to answer desperate pleas for help. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the stricken countries needed portable sanitation facilities, medical supplies, tents and helicopters to evacuate people. UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) teams were also assessing damage. "The power of this earthquake, and its huge geographical reach, are just staggering," said UNICEF executive director Carol Bellamy. Much of the early aid was focused on Sri Lanka which declared a state of emergency and appealed for international help. The Maldive islands in the Indian Ocean also issued an international alert. A French government plane was to take about 100 doctors, rescue specialists and communications experts to Sri Lanka on Monday. Israel was also sending doctors and has offered similar help to India. Pakistan said it would send tents, medicine and water to Sri Lanka, where more than 4,300 people were reported dead. At least 2,606 died in India. The Indian government set up a huge operation to help people on its southern coasts and to take food and medicine to neighboring Sri Lanka. Five Indian warships headed for Sri Lanka, defence officials told AFP. Three airforce cargo planes loaded with emergency supplies flew to India's stricken Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal, they said. The defence ministry said it was deploying naval ships, heavy-lift helicopters and aircraft to speed up rescue operations. Russia said two transport aircraft would leave Monday for Sri Lanka with a helicopter, tents and other equipment and staff to help victims. Greece said a military C-130 cargo plane would leave late Sunday for India and Sri Lanka with 11 tonnes of medical supplies and volunteers. Turkey also promised help. Australia offered 7.6 million dollars for aid, the European Union gave immediate aid of three million euros (four million dollars) and promised more. Germany and Ireland each released one million euros and Kuwait offered one million dollars. Britain sent two experts to join a UN crisis assessment teams and pledged 100,000 dollars to fund a World Health Organisation crisis response team. Canada said it was funnelling aid through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The United States also said it was ready to send assistance. "On behalf of the American people, the president (George W. Bush) expresses his sincere condolences for the terrible loss of life and suffering caused by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis," the White House said in a statement. "The United States stands ready to offer all appropriate assistance to those nations most affected including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as the other countries impacted," the statement added. In Geneva, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies appealed for 7.5 million Swiss francs (4.8 million euros, 6.6 million dollars) to help an estimated 500,000 survivors. |
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