'Quantum leap' for disaster aid

Egeland praised the efforts of rich and poor states alike

The tsunami disaster has seen a major improvement in international aid work co-ordination, key UN relief official Jan Egeland told BBC News.

"There is a quantum leap in terms of quality in international assistance - we don't have any more winter clothing going to tropical areas," he said.

Speaking on Talking Point, Mr Egeland stressed that the private sector had a vital role to play in relief work.

Private donations might even equal those of governments, he added.

"Again, co-ordination is essential."

The head of the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the armies of states involved in the relief effort were taking their orders from the UN.

The Indonesian military was playing a very important part in delivering aid to remote parts of northern Sumatra and Aceh, he noted.

The Indian military, he said, was helping in other countries such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia.

Mr Egeland added that he had just learnt that Singapore had offered "a number of assets" which would be used immediately.