Americans are a compassionate people and we are already hard at work
helping those nations meet these challenges. The United States has
pledged $350 million in relief assistance, with $15 million already in
the hands of relief organizations in the affected countries. To help
coordinate this massive relief effort, disaster response officials are
on the ground and have established a support center in Thailand that is
manned and operational; more than 20 patrol and cargo aircraft have been
made available to assess the disaster and deliver relief supplies --
many of those aircraft are already on the scene. We have dispatched the
aircraft carrier, Abraham Lincoln, the Maritime pre-positioning squadron
from Guam, and an amphibious ship carrying a Marine Expeditionary Unit
-- they will soon be in position to support relief efforts, to include
the generation of clean water.
Tomorrow, I will send a delegation to the area to meet with regional
leaders and international organizations to assess what additional aid
can be provided by the United States. The delegation will be led by
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Governor Jeb Bush, who has extensive
experience in the state of Florida with relief, rehabilitation and
reconstruction efforts following natural disasters. Secretary Powell has
already spoken with many of his counterparts in the region, and with
officials from the United Nations, and other governments that are
helping with the response. Together, we are leading an international
coalition to help with immediate humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and
long-term construction efforts. India, Japan and Australia have already
pledged to help us coordinate these relief efforts, and I'm confident
many more nations will join this core group in short order.
Here at home, Americans are translating the blessings of our own
country into generosity to others. From charitable organizations to
private individuals to companies, our fellow citizens, on their own
initiative, are raising millions of dollars for relief efforts. These
Americans, donor and fundraiser alike, represent the best of our country
and offer an example to the world. Any American who desires to donate to
these efforts can easily do so online, by accessing the USA FreedomCorps
web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.
In this season when we gather with loved ones and count our many
blessings, we hold the victims of this terrible tragedy in our hearts
and prayers. And let us be mindful that even in this modern age, our
world still requires compassion, tolerance and generosity from each of
us.
Laura and I send our condolences to all whose hearts are filled with
grief this New Year's Day; and to our fellow Americans, we wish you
peace and happiness in the coming year.
Thank you for listening.