U.S. pledges aid for victims South Asia quake, tsunami;
gives hotline for inquiries
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the earthquake
and tsunami that hit several countries in South Asia has been “an
international tragedy” and said the United States will “do
everything we can to assist the nations that have been affected
in dealing with this tragedy.”
In a press briefing in Washington, DC on December
27, the Secretary also said: “At the moment, we know of eight
Americans who have died and there are several hundred who are not
accounted for yet. It just means we haven't been able to reach out
and get contact with them. It does not imply that they are necessarily
injured or in any way a casualty. For family members seeking information
about one of their loved ones, they can contact the hotline number
that we have, 1-888-407-4747. You can also go to the State Department
website to get information about each of the countries involved,
and that's state.gov.”
Following are excerpts of the transcript of the press
briefing the Secretary conducted with U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator Ed Fox:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good afternoon, ladies
and gentlemen. I wanted to give you an update on the situation in
South Asia as a result of the tsunami and the loss of life that
was so tragic. I have just been on the phone a few moments ago with
President Bush, where he has been following this situation very
closely from Crawford, and as he indicated in the statement that
the White House issued yesterday and he has also now written letters
to the heads of state of the countries affected, he wants to extend
his deepest condolences to the families of those who were lost.
This is, indeed, an international tragedy and we're going to do
everything we can to assist the nations that have been affected
in dealing with this tragedy.
While the loss of any single life is precious, I would also like
to take this opportunity to extend particular condolences for the
tragic death of Khun Bhumi Jensen, who is the son of Princess Ubolratana
and grandson of His Majesty King Bhumipol of Thailand. We extend
condolences to the royal family.
The United States has been following this situation from the very
beginning. Our embassies are working in the affected areas to assist
contacting families and others, U.S. citizens who are unaccounted
for. At the moment, we know of eight Americans who have died and
there are several hundred who are not accounted for yet. It just
means we haven't been able to reach out and get contact with them.
It does not imply that they are necessarily injured or in any way
a casualty.
For family members seeking information about one of their loved
ones, they can contact the hotline number that we have, 1-888-407-4747.
You can also go to the State Department website to get information
about each of the countries involved, and that's state.gov.
Our ambassadors in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India and Indonesia
have provided a total of $400,000 in immediate assistance and we
are in discussions with the International Committee of the Red Cross
about providing $4 million in the course of the day of the $6.6
million appeal that they have made. We are also examining what other
assets might be needed and we'll do everything we can to help.
The United States Pacific Command is also involved in this, of course.
They have dispatched some P3 patrol aircraft to the region and the
Pacific fleet is examining what else they might be able to do to
help in this situation. I have also talked in the course of the
last 18 hours to my counterparts in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand,
India and Malaysia, to reinforce our offers of assistance.
USAID and other elements of the United States Government have been
deeply involved. What I'd like to do now, to give you more details
with respect to the support we are providing, is to introduce Mr.
Ed Fox, who is the Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for
International Development. He'll give you some details and then
I will return to the podium for questions and one or two other issues.
Ed.
MR. FOX: As soon as this tragic incident happened,
USAID moved, at the Secretary and the Administrator's direction,
to set up and dispatch a Disaster Assistance Response Team, which
are our specialists throughout the world. We drew two from the region
and we're sending an additional 19, for a total of 21 members, at
the moment, which will be in the area to help with sanitation, health
and other kinds of relief supplies.
We also draw upon our prepositioned supplies in the region, both
from the Philippines and in Dubai, where we have shelter and food.
We have water cans, bladders, and things of that nature. 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.
As the Secretary had said, not only have we responded, both in terms
of the short run, with $400,000 to the various embassies and also
a large commitment to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent,
but it's anticipated that we'll add another -- at least immediately
-- another probably $10 million, for a total of about $15 million,
in our initial response to this tragedy.
. . .
QUESTION: Can I get some clarification, perhaps,
from Mr. Fox on the additional funding that you would expect? You
said there will probably be 10 million more. Is that money that
would then be given to individual governments and not additional
money to the Red Cross in its appeal? . . .
MR. FOX: . . . To your question about money, at
this point, we don't know exactly how much of that will be in terms
of cash to be disbursed or whether it will be commodities, but we
anticipate that our initial reaction to this is going to be in the
neighborhood of $15 million. That may increase. It may change. But
we haven't divided it up until our DART teams are all on the ground,
in place. That's their purpose is to make assessments as to where
this money will need and to what purpose. Sometimes it's moving
commodities. Other times it's contributions, as it is to the Red
Cross and Red Crescent.
QUESTION: So the 4 million will go to the Red Cross,
as you envision it --
MR. FOX: Yes, that's part of the --
QUESTION: And the rest of it will go through USAID
to where -- to their recommendation --
MR. FOX: At the moment, that's our anticipation,
yes.
QUESTION: Okay, thank you.
SECRETARY POWELL: We also have to see this not
just as a one-time thing. Some 20-plus thousand lives have been
lost in a few moments, but the lingering effects will be there for
years. The damage that was caused, the rebuilding of schools and
other facilities, will take time. So you need a quick infusion to
stabilize the situation, take care of those who have been injured,
get immediate relief supplies in, and then you begin planning for
the longer haul.
. . .
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, going back to Asia [inaudible]
disaster. Many countries are already commending the United States,
especially you, for acting fast, or help is on the way. My question,
Mr. Secretary, that as far as your estimate, that how many countries,
or if any countries officially have requested the United States
for help?
And also, it's been now four years that you have been dealing with
these Asian countries, and especially with India. Where do you put,
as we enter the new year – 2005 -- India and U.S. relations,
sir?
SECRETARY POWELL: On the, I think, one -- we have
one official request, Ed, that you may be aware of. I think Sri
Lanka but I'm --
MR. FOX: Sri Lanka.
SECRETARY POWELL: Sri Lanka has made an official
formal request for a particular kind of assistance. And all of the
other countries, when I spoke to their foreign ministers, I said,
please let us know what you need through our embassy. And so all
of that is working and being coordinated by our OFDA and AID officials.
As we enter 2005, I think U.S.-Indian relations are on a very strong
foundation. We have worked hard at it over the last four years.
We have a new strategic plan that we're working with the Indian
Government on. We've also maintained good relations with all of
our other friends in the region, all of the nations, for example,
who have been affected by this terrible tragedy, and also by the
relations we have been able to create with Pakistan.
And what we have tried to show to South Asia is that the United
States can deal with each country in a separate strong bilateral
relationship and through that technique also assist them to solve
regional problems. And I'm sure that will be continued into the
next administration as well.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, on the tsunami, what advice
do you have for Americans who want to donate and provide help and
some sort of assistance to the people, to the victims? Also, do
you see a significant role for the U.S military, especially in terms
of search and recovery efforts?
SECRETARY POWELL: The United States Pacific Command
is looking at this very question now, the second question that you
raised. And as I mentioned, they're sending some reconnaissance
aircraft and our sea-based forces are moving into the area to see
what can be done. The first thing you have to do is make an assessment
of what can be done usefully, and then bring the assets that you
have to bear.
With respect to the first question, I think there -- I don't know
if you have it with you, Ed, the particular place you can make donations.
We'll get it to you. Adam will look it up. It's already on some
of the television stations. They're showing UN addresses and places
where you can make donations, and we'll get that to you.
Yes, ma'am.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you talk about the initial
infusion of assistance in that region. Have you heard, or is there
any consideration for help for U.S. economic interests in the region?
Have you heard of any disaster plans in that regard?
SECRETARY POWELL: In terms of our business presence
out there or factories, no, I haven't received any information on
that yet. We've really been focusing on the humanitarian aspects
of this. And I'm sure that kind of issue will come up, as we get
further into this crisis. I don't think you have any on it.
MR. FOX: Saving lives.
SECRETARY POWELL: Yeah. Yes, ma'am.
###
Related links:
-- Full transcript
of December 27 briefing
-- White
House statement on Bay of Bengal Earthwake and Tidal Waves
