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[December 30, 2004 - 10.00 GMT] US President George W. Bush yesterday telephoned President Chandrika Kumaratunga and conveyed his shock and concern at the disaster wrought by the tsunamis in Sri Lanka. He inquired as to how the US could be of assistance. President Kumaratunga thanked President Bush for the US assistance already received and briefed him on the scale of the damage and havoc, having just returned from one of the affected areas and seeing for herself the destruction. She briefed President Bush on the specific and immediate needs of the country and explained to him her plans for rehabilitation and reconstruction both in the short and long term. The President said the damaged infrastructure needed to be put in place urgently and that overseas assistance would be welcome. She has already established a task force for this purpose she told Mr. Bush. Immediately after his conversation with President Kumaratunga and other leaders of the affected countries, President Bush told a news conference that he felt the enormity of the calamity suffered by the Asian region, "These past few days have brought loss and grief to the world that is beyond our comprehension." "The
United States will continue to stand with the affected governments as they
care for the victims. We will stand with them as they start to rebuild their
communities. I assure those leaders that this is just only the beginning of
our help," he said.
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