JAKARTA, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Thursday in Jakarta appealed for $977 million in humanitarian aid to help earthquake and tsunami victims.
Speaking at an emergency summit in Jakarta, Annan commended the global outpouring of aid pledges for tsunami victims, but highlighted the need for immediate assistance, warning that Asia could be hit by a second wave of deaths from preventable causes.
While governments, individuals and companies around the world have already pledged more than the sum he was asking for, with the latest estimate putting the total at $5 billion, he said it was essential that pledges were converted into cash.
Annan said the $977 million would cover the costs of a specific set of programs for the next six months, including $229 million for food and agriculture, $222 million for shelter and other non-food needs, and $122 million for healthcare.
The disaster killed around 150,000 from Indonesia to Somalia, leaving half a million injured, more than 1 million displaced and 2 million in need of food, Annan said.
