The United Nations will need US$977 million to cover the immediate emergency needs of an estimated 5 million people suffering from the Dec. 26 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday.

Annan made the remarks at the one-day summit of world leaders aimed at coordinating billions of dollars of emergency relief and reconstruction aid to the earthquake and tsunami hit nations. Leaders or their representatives of 26 countries and international organizations are attending the meeting to discuss the massive relief and reconstruction efforts for the earthquake and tsunami hit countries.

Addressing the summit, Annan said that US$977 million were needed immediately in cash to help 5 million survivors.

He said that the funds are intended for a six-month immediate international relief the United Nations is undertaking in Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles and Somalia.

The UN appeal for immediate relief effort will need US$229 million for food and agriculture, 122 million for health care, 61 million for water and sanitation, 222 million for shelter and non-food items, and 110 million for early restoration of livelihoods, he said.

While noting that the exact death toll from the disaster would never be known, with thousands of bodies likely to remain missing, Annan said that the number killed would exceed 150,000.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2005)