Bush Tells Americans to Continue Giving to Other Aid Groups

President Bush renewed his plea to Americans Monday to donate to Indian Ocean tsunami relief efforts, but implored them to also continue making contributions to international aid organizations.

“I repeat: Make sure that this help doesn’t take the place of other help you’re giving,” Bush said during an appearance before U.S. Agency for International Development workers and employees of nongovernmental organizations. “You should view the tsunami relief effort as extra help, to help solve the problem, so that we don’t short-change the needs for compassion elsewhere.”

Later in the day, the president held a meeting with scientists to assess the state of America’s own tsunami warning system and explore the possibility of creating a global network.

A warning system exists for the Pacific Ocean, which is known for earthquakes and tsunamis, but not the Atlantic, a far less geologically active region, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Officials from that agency, as well as from the U.S. Geological Survey, attended the session, which was chaired by Jack Marburger, the White House science advisor.

“The president directed them to make sure that the United States is properly protected, and to continue discussions with other nations about potentially fashioning an international system,” said Trent Duffy, deputy press secretary.

At the State Department, USAID administrator Andrew S. Natsios said U.S. officials had been urging heads of state to consider creating a “joint typhoon-tsunami early-warning system.”

Natsios said he would be attending a donors meeting today in Geneva that was expected to draw representatives from more than 80 countries. In addition to the ongoing relief efforts, the conference will focus on rehabilitation and long-term reconstruction.

To date, $4 billion has been pledged by governments, he said. Now “we need to focus our efforts on coordination, on the logistical systems, and on rapidly moving into the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases, working with the governments of the countries that we’re hosted by.”

The U.S. government has pledged $350 million in aid for tsunami victims, an amount that senior officials, including Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, have indicated is likely to grow. Private donations are fast approaching the government’s contribution.