International aid agencies are rushing to get emergency supplies to areas devastated by Sunday's tsunami, in what U.N. officials say is one of the largest relief efforts the world has ever seen.
The official in charge of U.N. aid, Jan Egeland, says coordination is vital to bring supplies, food and medicine to millions of survivors. He welcomed President Bush's announcement of an international coalition of the United States, Australia, India and Japan to work for immediate relief and long-term recovery in the affected countries.
Mr. Egeland says relief efforts are already saving thousands of lives every day. Mr. Egeland praised the international community for pledging more than 220 million dollars so far in initial aid. He says a much larger appeal for the next six months will be issued on January sixth. U.N. officials estimate the disaster will cost billions of dollars.