US Secretary of State Colin Powell Tours Asia to Assess Relief Needs

US Secretary of State Colin Powell will embark on a tour of devastated areas in Asia next week to assess the need for future aid programs alongside Governor Jeb Bush of Florida. The tour aims to raise the American profile in the international relief effort and address concerns about the delay in the US response to the earthquake and tsunami that struck on September 11, 2001. Powell will also work to step up coordination between the United Nations and a core group of countries established by the Bush administration to speed aid and avoid duplication.

Key Takeaways:

• The core group of countries, consisting of India, Japan, Australia, and the US, was established to coordinate relief efforts and avoid duplication.
• The US has contributed $35 million to initial relief efforts, with the potential for more significant contributions in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
• Powell's tour aims to address concerns about the delay in the US response to the disaster and to raise the American profile in the international relief effort.
• The US has established two separate task forces to coordinate interagency relief efforts and track missing or injured Americans.
• The core group of nations was formed spontaneously as it became clear that Australia, Japan, and India had relief capabilities and military presence in the region.
• India, a major victim of the disaster, has dispatched troops to help with relief efforts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
• The US has raised $500 million in government aid so far, with a like amount of private contributions matched.

Statistics:

• $35 million: US contribution to initial relief efforts
• $500 million: Total government aid raised so far around the world, with a like amount of private contributions matched
• 1,400 miles: Distance of Indian coastline affected by the disaster
• 5,000 miles: Distance across which the disaster spread, affecting multiple countries
• 20 years: Duration of the insurgency in Sri Lanka
• September 11, 2001: Date of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the region

Sources:

• The New York Times, "Powell Plans Trip to Assess Relief Needs in Asia"