UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urges the international donor community to keep their pledges at the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 3, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

As thousands remain missing in the wake of the tsunami, the massive worldwide effort to provide aid to some 5 million homeless and starving survivors moves into high gear.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said world pledges topped 5 billion US dollars, led by 500 million US dollars from Japan, and at least 350 million US dollars from the United States.

Many of the survivors are in desperate need of food, water and shelter. World Bank President James Wolfensohn says the World Bank's 250 million US dollar pledge is for the immediate emergency, and that his organization will probably double or triple the amount of money for further reconstruction.