Annan says a billion dollars needed now as UN takes over relief operation

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1504&ncid=1504&e=1&u=/afp/20050106/ts_afp/asiaquake_050106123302

JAKARTA (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) appealed for almost one billion dollars in cash to tackle the immediate aftermath of the tsunami disaster, as the United States agreed to hand the world body total control of the relief effort.

At an emergency world summit in Jakarta which brought together leaders from 26 nations and international organisations, Annan told them that 977 million dollars was required now to implement specific programmes to deal with the catastrophe which has killed at least 146,000 people and left millions more homeless and hungry.

More than four billion dollars in aid has been pledged by individual governments but with humanitarian groups warning the death toll could double unless help urgently reaches those most in need, Annan said the offers must become reality soon.

"Many of the pledges have come to us in cash and in kind. We need the rest of the pledges to be converted into cash quickly," said Annan.

"We also need more people and more material to get the aid to those who are most in need, often in remote areas."

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[rooboy]

1. George donated ten thousand dollars. That should help. n/t

[0007]

2. C'mon junior fork over the loot its only funny money anyway!

....and what do you care who runs the show as long as those needy folks get relief, Jays'us will still love ya!

[seriousstan]

3. "We need the rest of the pledges to be converted into cash quickly"

I'll bet he does.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[radric]

5. Hope the UN...

does a better job with this than the Oil-for-Food program.