UNITED NATIONS, Jan 1: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Friday that a 10-fold increase in American aid to $350 million from $35 million was made after reassessment of the situation in tsunami-affected areas.
He rejected suggestions that the United States was trying to edge out the United Nations as leader of the international relief effort.
United Nations' top relief co-coordinator Jan Egeland said the latest U.S. contribution brought total donations from around the world to more than $1.1 billion, including cash and in-kind contributions.
During a visit to UN headquarters for talks with Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mr Powell said "This 10-fold increase is indicative of American generosity but it also is indicative of the need".
Mr Powell also denied that the increase announced by President Bush on Friday had been the result of a 'bidding war' because he had been stung by criticism that wealthy nations were stingy.
The announcement had been timed around completion of the necessary assessments and "not just that each day everybody was trying to play, 'can you top this'," Mr Powell said. "The need is great, not just for immediate relief but for long term," he said.
"We had to wait and see what those needs were. I am not sure 350 is the end number - it is the number we settled on for now," Mr Powell said.
The UN said the death toll from Sunday's sea surge may be approaching 150,000 as the emergency relief operation struggled against debris-clogged harbours, power outages, washed-away roads and shattered towns from Indonesia to Somalia.
Mr Powell plans to leave for Indonesia and Sri Lanka on Sunday with the president's brother, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida. Mr Bush said he was sending his brother because the series of hurricanes that hit Florida had given him a particular expertise in disaster relief. There is also symbolism in sending a member of his family who has instant access to the president.
When asked to comment over the strained US relations with the world body, Mr Powell asserted: "My visit here today with the secretary-general is for the purpose of making sure we keep proper momentum".