International donors are moving with record speed to meet a near
one-billion US dollar appeal for immediate aid to Asia's tsunami victims,
according to the head of the UN aid effort, Jan Egeland, who says more than 70
percent of the goal has already been raised.
UN Humanitarian Chief Jan Egeland said: "717, seven-one-seven, million
dollars were concretely committed to our 977 million dollar appeal, that is 73
percent of the total. This has never, ever happened before."
The UN humanitarian chief made the announcement after an international donor
conference in Geneva to raise money for the tsunami-affected nations.
He also promised immediate investigation of any allegations that funds for
tsunami relief were being mishandled.
Among UN measures in the works are a way to let the public track every aid
dollar via a Web site and the drafting of new rules to protect UN staff
whistle-blowers.
At the start of the Geneva meeting, a minute's silence was held in memory of
the tsunami's victims.
As well as top government officials from more than 81 countries, also present
were senior representatives from the World Bank, International Federation of The
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Asia Development Bank.
