UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday the international community has pledged and disbursed around US$500 million for relief efforts in tsunami-hit Asian countries and he was "satisfied" with such a good response.
"I'm satisfied with the response so far," Annan told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, where he returned Wednesday night after cutting short his vacation.
"This is an unprecedented, global catastrophe and it requires an unprecedented, global response. Over the past few days, it has registered deeply in the consciousness and conscience of the world, as we seek to grasp the speed, the force and magnitude with which it happened," he said.
"But we must also remain committed for the longer term. We know that the impact will be felt for a long time to come."
The UN leader noted that the death toll from Sunday's tsunami disaster has topped 115,000 and the number of the injured stood at half a million. The tidal waves also rendered one million homeless and left at least five million in need of immediate assistance.
A total of half US$a billion in assistance has been pledged or received, including US$250 million promised by World Bank President James Wolfensohn Thursday morning, and more than 30 countries and millions of individuals have stepped forward to help, he said.
Annan also stressed the need for coordination of the relief effort, which could be the largest in the world's history.
"Coordination of the response is now absolutely essential," he said. "How well the international community and the affected countries work together now will determine how well we will deal with all aspects of the disaster -- both in the immediate and the longer term."
Earlier in the day, Annan held separate talks with the heads of UN humanitarian agencies and the ambassadors of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and 10 other countries hard hit by the deadly waves.
He later held a video conference with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and representative of Japan, India and Australia, members of the so-called "core group" established by Washington to coordinate relief and reconstruction efforts in tsunami-stricken nations.
"We're going to play a lead role in this, working with the entire international community," Annan said. "It is going to require lots of money, lots of effort, and for a longer term."
The UN chief also met with representatives of the European Union on the tsunami disaster Thursday afternoon.
Annan is due to launch an appeal for long-term assistance for the tsunami-hit countries on Jan. 6.