U.S. provides aid tsunami disaster relief

U.S. provides aid tsunami disaster relief The U.S. government is preparing to send aid in the form of money and commodities to countries wrecked by a massive tsunami on the morning of Dec. 26.
   At a Dec. 27 press briefing, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the assistance comes in response to an urgent appeal from the International Committee of the Red Cross. He said the Bush administration is in discussions with the Red Cross to provide $4 million of the $6.6 million appeal.
   U.S. embassies in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India and Indonesia have already provided $400,000 in immediate assistance.
   “We are also examining what other assets might be needed and we’ll do everything we can to help,” Powell said. It’s expected that the United States will provide another $10 million to the initial relief effort for a total of about $15 million.
   The U.S. Agency for International Development has dispatched a 21-member disaster assistance reponse team to the region to assess the needs and help with distribution of relief supplies.
   Ed Fox, assistant administrator for USAID, said the agency will draw on prepositioned supplies, such as shelter and food, for the region in the Philippines and Dubai.
   “The first important thing will be to help in the removal of debris and disaster and to help the people, not only those tragically killed, but the million or more who are also going to be displaced and will need shelter and food and clothing,” Fox said.