Time for rich nations to deliver

The United Nations has appealed to rich countries to deliver quickly on aid pledges to the tsunami victims, and not to repeat the history of previous disasters by providing too little too late.

Jan Egeland, the UN humanitarian chief, highlighted pledges of $5.6 billion made by more than 60 countries, adding: "We are seeing an extraordinary effort, probably unique in the history of humankind. I hope this is the new standard - how the world responds to people in need.

"The bad past is behind us. This is the new level of compassion, solidarity, generosity."

About $430 million has so far reached the UN and Mr Egeland said he wanted more detail on when and how the money would be made available.

- INDEPENDENT