The United Nations mobilised aid world-wide for disaster victims in Asia as planeloads of emergency supplies headed Monday for countries hit by the killer tidal waves with a death surpassing 23,000. Western capitals and international agencies swung into action, pledging cash and assistance to India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Maldives and Thailand to help survivors and clean up coastal areas inundated by waves more than 10 metres (30 feet) high.
Noting the large number of affected countries, UN Assistant Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Yvette Stevens said: "I think this is unprecedented, we have not had this before." The UN said disaster assessment teams were en route to Sri Lanka and the Maldives as the world body tried to co-ordinate an unprecedented aid effort across the region.
A team of three UN experts were due to arrive in Sri Lanka Tuesday, while another was set to leave for the Maldives, said Stevens.
More specialists were poised to help authorities in Indonesia and Thailand to assess the destruction on their coastlines and co-ordinate relief efforts, she added.
Many donor states had themselves lost citizens swept away by giant waves as they holidayed in popular resorts on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Some, including Australia, France, Greece, Italy and Russia, dispatched planeloads of supplies and medical staff, while others sent experts to assess the damage first, or announced the release of cash totalling millions of dollars.
Specialists were also set to help authorities in Indonesia and Thailand evaluate the destruction on their coastlines and co-ordinate relief efforts. Several countries including India and Malaysia were thought to be coping for the time being and the UN was concentrating on areas in greatest need and governments that had asked for help.
Two giant Russian Il-76 transport planes left Moscow for Sri Lanka early Monday carrying 25 tonnes of emergency supplies, including tents and a helicopter plus rescue experts, officials said. Russia also plans to send aid to Indonesia.
A French government plane left for the Sri Lankan capital Colombo with about 100 doctors, rescue specialists and communications experts, along with six tonnes of equipment, including drugs and a field medical post, and another was following.
Germany pledged one million euros (1.35 million dollars) of aid to the stricken region and was working with humanitarian groups, as well as sending three experts to Sri Lanka to help restore water supplies.
Pakistan said it would send tents, medicine and water to Sri Lanka, while the Indian government, which has set up a huge operation to help people on its southern coasts, was also offering food and medicine to its southern neighbour aboard five warships.
Australia offered 10 million dollars (7.6 million US) dollars for aid, and dispatched two C-130s with medical specialists, drinking water and other supplies to Indonesia, with two more to follow Tuesday.
The European Union's executive arm pledged substantial sums which could reach 30 million euros (40.5 million dollars) in emergency aid, after first releasing three million.
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