For Immediate Release
January 7, 2005

Global Message

Secretary Powell told Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders in Jakarta that America fully supports tsunami relief and reconstruction. U.S. officials look forward to participating in the UN Donors Conference in Geneva on January 11.

The United States is leading a massive international response to help tsunami victims, and has made an initial commitment of $350 million for disaster relief. This amount is supplemented by private donations of about $200 million, military assets, and contributions to come.

President Bush announced that former Presidents Bush and Clinton would lead a nationwide charitable fundraising effort to encourage private donations to the relief effort.

The U.S. military has responded by committing 13,000 troops to the relief effort. Other military contributions include water, food, medical supplies, aircraft, and support ships.

The U.S. military has deployed $20 billion in assets in the region to aid tsunami victims. These assets cost $6 million a day to operate.