The amount of aid being pledged to the disaster-struck regions of Asia has climbed to a new high.

The United Nations says nearly one and a half billion euros worth of assistance has been promised. The figure brings together donations for emergency relief as well as reconstruction. A multi-national force of aid workers and military personnel has now descended on the coastal regions hit by the tsunamis. But with transport and communications hit, getting the supplies of food, water and medicines to those most in need is a logistical nightmare. In Indonesia’s Aceh province, where 80,000 people died, US army helicopters have been dropping supplies to survivors. The drive is on to build overland supply networks to allow aid to be distributed more evenly. Meanwhile in Sri Lanka the thousands of pregnant women caught up in the disaster have to be cared for. It is feared many lack the basic health facilities needed to deliver a healthy baby.

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