The UN on Wednesday launched an initial appeal to donors for 130 million dollars (95 million euros) for the immediate needs of victims in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives.

But the Geneva conference will follow up on a much bigger appeal to be launched on January 6 in New York, the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a written statement.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 1 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan could visit Indonesia this week as the international relief effort for Asia's tsunami victims nears two billion dollars in aid, UN officials said on Saturday.

"International compassion has never, ever been like this," said Jan Egeland, the UN undersecretary general for emergency relief, who is helping to coordinate what may be the largest such effort in history.

He said pledges have been recorded of two billion dollars although another official said that figure was an approximation

Carol Bellamy will arrive in Sri Lanka on Sunday and tour devastated southern regions of the country by helicopter and on foot, her office said in a statement on Saturday.

On Monday she will travel to the north of the island before flying to Indonesia on Tuesday morning, the statement said. She is expected to meet with government officials as well as citizens

Sri Lanka

Présente depuis 1996 au Sri Lanka et plus particulièrement dans les districts de Jaffna (Nord), Trincomalee (Est) et Batticaloa (Est), nos équipes sur place ont immédiatement mesuré

A flight will depart from Stansted Airport in the UK early tomorrow morning, Sunday 2nd January, for Sri Lanka. Amongst the 30 tonnes of essential supplies are 10,000 tarpaulins for shelter, 1000 duvet covers and pillowcases donated by IKEA, and water purification tablets for three million litres of water. Huge tents are also on their

The extra amount brings the total funds released by the EU to help regions devastated by the disaster in south Asia to 23 million euros (31 million dollars), the EU's executive arm said.

On Tuesday the EU had earmarked 10 million euros for India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and a further three million

1 January 2005 (0900IST)-Tremors (6.5 richter scale) have hit Aceh province, Indonesia during New-Years night accompanied with heavy rains. Aid has begun to reach tsunami victims in the remote areas of Aceh. Relief efforts are ongoing in all other countries. So far, Asian affected countries are emphasizing health preparedness and prevention, and not reporting major disease outbreaks.

Situational Update

In any other year, 31 December would be a special time in Sri Lanka. Just as in other countries, people gather in their homes, in hotels, on beaches and roof tops to welcome in the New Year.

Sri Lankans like to party, and New Year's Eve is the perfect occasion to enjoy themselves. But not this year.

There is darkness in the capital, Colombo, and little traffic. The hotels that should be bustling with life are empty, save for a collection of journalists and aid workers. The firecrackers,