UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan will today ask world leaders meeting in the Indonesian capital Jakarta to set aside some $1 billion to provide emergency aid for the next six months for the victims of the Asian tsunami.
The conference is also expected to encourage those countries that have spoken of forgiving debt repayments to follow through so that states worst affected by the disaster can channel their resources to help their own people. The situation is regarded as the world's largest humanitarian crisis since the end of the second World War.
US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell yesterday surveyed Indonesia's Aceh province, the worst-affected area where 500,000 people are homeless and at least 100,000 lost their lives.
Mr Powell, a veteran of the Vietnam war as well as the 1991 Gulf War, was taken aback by what he saw. "I have been in war and I have been through a number of hurricanes, tornadoes and other relief operations, but I have never seen anything like this," he said.
"Only by seeing it in person from a helicopter flying low over the city can there be a real appreciation of what it must have been like when the tsunami came through and caused so much destruction."
The tragedy was marked in Ireland and across Europe yesterday when millions of people observed three minutes' silence at 11 a.m. in the Republic.
Irish observance was led by the President, Mrs McAleese, and thousands of people in shops, offices and factories also participated in scenes repeated the length and breadth of the continent.
The Government's response to the crisis has moved up a gear. Last night it indicated it was willing to increase its aid offer of €10 million once the UN decides its longer-term needs.
Garda forensic experts are expected to arrive late today in Thailand, followed by military and defence officials at the weekend. Defence sources have told The Irish Times that the Defence Forces are preparing to offer the Government a number of the Air Corps Alouette helicopters for UN relief work, possibly in Sri Lanka. It would be the first time the Air Corps had participated in such an operation.
The UN's Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Mr Jan Egeland, said helicopters were "like gold". He praised the United States for doubling its number of helicopters to about 90.
Mr Annan pleaded with donor countries to live up to their pledges of aid, which now amount to over $3.7 billion (€2.8 billion). Leaders from 26 nations and humanitarian groups at the Jakarta conference will discuss ways to co-ordinate donations and relief operations.