US Secretary of State Colin Powell said today the United States may be able to do more to help identify remains of tsunami victims and pledged US support for a regional warning system in hopes of preventing such massive loss of life from future tsunamis.
Getting his first up-close look at heavy damage from last week's undersea earthquake and tsunami, Powell visited the Phuket resort area that is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand for European and American beachgoers.
Powell and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush saw scores of photographs and posters posted outside the town hall seeking information on missing tourists.
Powell toured an office where American forensic experts are helping Thai officials identify thousands of bodies that washed ashore and said afterward he will recommend expanding US forensic assistance.
Thai officials told Powell the thing they most want is US help for a warning system in the Indian Ocean and China Sea and Powell pledged US technical help for some kind of a regional warning system.
"We'll do everything we can to contribute," he said.
Discussing US aid in general, Powell said, "The United States has made a significant financial contribution, but we have done much more than that." He cited millions of dollars being raised in private donations in the United States even before President Bush announced yesterday in Washington that his father, the first President Bush, and former President Clinton, will head a fund-raising drive.
Powell also noted US military assistance was delivering food, water and supplies and evacuating the wounded.
In an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America," he urged patience, saying that getting aid and supplies to the victims "is not a simple matter."
"Everybody thinks you can just magically move aircraft, helicopters and aircraft carriers across an ocean in a day. ... It's not just money. It's getting food, water, medical supplies in place. It takes time to generate such an effort."
Asked whether he believes the official death toll announced for Burma is as low as the official government tally of 59, Powell said control of information in that country is too tight to know whether the figure is correct, but added that he recently saw satellite photographs that indicated Burma was not as badly damaged as some other Indian Ocean countries.
Earlier in Bangkok he declared that the United States "will certainly not turn away from those in desperate need" as he works with Asian leaders to speed up relief efforts in the tsunami disaster.
Accompanied by the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the secretary of state Tuesday stressed a two-prong commitment of US financial and military support to help the region recover.
AP