Powell Sees No Rise in U.S. Tsunami Funds for Now





BANGKOK (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said on Monday he did not expect aid for tsunami-hit Asian nations to increase for now as he visited the region after sharp criticism that Washington's initial response was slow and stingy.



Powell made his comments at the start of a trip to Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to see first hand the ravages caused by the Dec. 26 undersea earthquake and resulting giant waves that killed nearly 145,000 people around the Indian Ocean.


In dispatching Powell and his brother, Florida governor Jeb Bush, to Asia, President Bush (news - web sites) hopes to show U.S. concern after enduring withering criticism of his failure to speak publicly about the disaster for three days.


Washington has also been blasted for its initial $15 million aid commitment, which was later raised to $35 million and then to $350 million as the scale of the tragedy became clear.


A global total of nearly $2 billion has been pledged by governments and multi-lateral donors, such as the World Bank (news - web sites).


"At the moment, I don't see a need for any additional financial (assistance)," Powell told reporters as he flew to Bangkok, when asked if the U.S. pledge would be raised at an international conference in Jakarta in Thursday.


"The president has made clear that we will do what is necessary," he said. "There is no shortage of money at the moment."


Powell, who is due to meet Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday to discuss the disaster, said the main problem now was getting supplies to far-flung communities left isolated by the inundation.


"A lot of aid is now pouring in, but I think the real challenge will be the distribution of the aid out of the ports and off the airfields," he said.


Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand have been the hardest hit, with Indonesia alone accounting for about 100,000 of the deaths.