The South African government Monday set up an inter-ministerial committee, assisted by a task team of senior officials, to coordinate relief efforts for countries affected by last week's tsunami disaster.

Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi, who heads the committee, urged individuals and organizations wishing to contribute to channel their donations to a central point.

This would enable the committee, having identified the areas ofmost critical need, to distribute the donations in the most effective way possible.

He told reporters in Pretoria: "We are not likely to make the impact required if we donate in a disparate manner."

He said those wishing to make financial contributions should doso to a Red Cross fund set up specifically to aid tsunami-strickencountries.

Several organizations have already established relief funds, but Mufamadi said coordination was required "to maximize the impact of the assistance we will be giving."

He called on non-governmental bodies and the private sector to designate representatives to participate in the activities of the inter-departmental task team.

It comprised officials from the departments of provincial and local government, foreign affairs, health, water affairs and social development. The ministers responsible for these departments sat on the inter-ministerial committee.

The death toll in the earthquake-induced tsunami disaster in south-east Asia was nearing 150,000 by Monday, including thousandsof foreign tourists. The giant waves also hit several east Africancountries.

South Africa has to date received requests for assistance from Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Thailand, Mufamadi said.

The government would hold discussions with airlines like SAA and the SA National Defense Force with a view to putting in place mechanisms for the transportation of donations, Mufamadi said.