Tsunami Relief Website to Track Aid Pledges Launched by UN

Although last year's quake-tsunami disaster is no longer being propogated as front page news, the effects in the devastated areas are very real as the lives of people have been turned upside-down.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, who has recently received the humanitarian award for his work on behalf of victims worldwide, announced the launch of a 'first of its kind' website to track the funds promised to the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

Pointing out a slowing down in the donations being offered for some other crises and low responses to appeals for the Central African Republic, Djibuti and Somalia, he also urged to give more attention to the world's neglected humanitarian emergencies.

3.6 million people from 12 million inhabitants of Niger were endangered by food insecurity and locust invasions were followed by severe drought. However, an appeal for help last week drew absolutely no commitments, making Niger 'the number one forgotten and neglected emergency'.

All information and updates regarding all tsunami-related pledges received and dispersed will be accessible through the new web page 'reliefweb.int' spoke Jan Egeland to journalists. He expressed his hope for similar Internet-based real-time reporting to be used to account for the large sums expected to be received for recovery and development.

"I said very early on, that this unprecedented generosity should be met by unprecedented transparency in how the money is spent, when it is spent, where it is spent, so that those who contributed know where we spend our money," stated Mr. Egeland