Tuesday, January 4 2005 19:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: After committing $ 1.5 million towards relief for tsunami-affected people in India, the US today (Jan 4, 2005) said it had earmarked $ 1.6 million more for the purpose, which could be followed with sanction of more funds depending on the need.

Denying that Washington had been stingy, US Ambassador to India David C Mulford told reporters in New Delhi that the Bush Administration had responded immediately in the aftermath of the natural disaster and offered help in various forms.

India's inclusion in four-nation core group on disaster relief reflects the significance Washington attaches to New Delhi, he said and noted that it had provided an occasion for the armed forces of the two countries to operationalise the programmes undertaken during joint exercises.

The group, which also includes the US, Japan and Australia, is a temporary body meant for overseeing relief operations only and will disperse as soon the task is over.

The core group is an informal and operational body formed quickly to ensure that the resources reach the people who need it. It is not monetary but physical," Mulford said.

With regard to financial resources, the Ambassador said he himself had contributed $ 100,000 to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Within the next two days, the US Administration had sanctioned $ 1.4 million, he said, adding the Indian Government did not wish to accept direct aid and said the funds should be routed through NGOs.

Another 1.6 million Dollars are expected to be earmarked very soon, he said.

""If there is a larger need, there is no doubt that the US will provide it," the American Ambassador said but noted that in a democratic country there is "accountability" and care is taken that there is no misuse of funds.

He said the US had raised the quantum of aid as the extent of destruction caused by tsunami unfolded.

Mulford emphasised that the top US leadership, including National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell, had been in touch with their Indian counterparts J N Dixit and K Natwar Singh on operational issues almost on daily basis.

"The core group was formed as a result of that dialogue," he said.

The US had also offered to India the services of its Navy, which had considerable presence in terms of resources in the region, Mulford said.

He, however, observed that India had taken care of its needs besides taking a lead in providing help to its neighbours in the hour of crisis.

He said the US Navy in Sri Lanka was operating under India's leadership. "A significant operational cooperation is going on and it is being deepened as we speak," the US envoy said.

To a question, he said it was "realistically" impossible to detect tsunami because there was no time gap between the quake and the resultant tidal waves.

Mulford said the focus should now shift from relief to rebuilding, which is a larger task.