Date:28/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/28/stories/2005012805771200.htm

International

It's aid or debt relief, says U.S.

WASHINGTON, JAN. 27. The Bush Administration said tsunami-hit countries that want long-term debt relief would have to choose between that and other U.S. aid. ``There will be a trade off for them between debt relief and other types of assistance we might be able to offer them,'' Alan Larson, Undersecretary of State, said.

Countries seeking the short-term debt relief agreed by the Paris Club of creditor nations will not have to make such a choice. The United States is one of the 19 members of the Paris Club that will provide an initial three-month debt moratorium for the affected countries.

Official death toll

The official death toll from the Dec. 26 tsunami ranges from 145,741 to 178,113. The number of missing ranges from 26,413 to 146,564 — with most presumed dead. Death tolls by country: Indonesia: 98,064-123,198 dead; 12,046-132,197 missing. Sri Lanka: 30,957-38,195 dead; 5,644 missing. India: 10,779 dead; 5,614 missing. Thailand: 5,390 dead; 3,109 missing. Somalia: 298. Myanmar: 90. Maldives: 82. Malaysia: 68. Tanzania: 10. Bangladesh: 2. Kenya: 1.