U.N. Seeks More Aircraft for Tsunami Aid

[JohnA]

The New York Times
December 31, 2004
U.N. Seeks More Aircraft for Tsunami Aid
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 2:37 p.m. ET

UNITED NATIONS (AP)-- The head of the United Nations World Food Program appealed to goverments Friday to provide more cargo aircraft and helicopters to deliver relief supplies to victims of the tsunami disaster but praised the world's generosity in aid so far.

WFP Executive Director James Morris' comments came as the United States announced it was increasing its pledge tenfold to $350 million -- and his statement contrasted with an earlier U.N. official's criticisms that rich countries are in general ``stingy'' in giving help to developing nations.

``At the end of the year with a series of crises unfolding, with a cumulative effect that stretched donor resources to the limits, it is extremely gratifying to see such a swift and generous response to this new catastrophe, perhaps the worst natural disaster in history,'' Morris said.

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