Risk of deaths, disease high

The death toll from the devastating earthquake and tsunamis that hit Asia and Africa soared to about 160,000 early today after Indonesia announced almost 20,000 new deaths.

Health officials have warned that the death toll could jump even higher without a continual supply of aid, and world leaders struggled on Thursday to figure out the best way to help victims - and to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again.

Donors concluded an emergency one-day summit as relief workers scrambled to move aid to areas of Sumatra, the Indonesian island hit hardest by the earthquake and giant waves that crashed ashore Dec. 26. Volunteers hurled sacks of rice and instant noodles into trucks as U.S. helicopters loaded with other supplies buzzed overhead en route to isolated communities.

A new potential danger emerged, this time to the American and Australian military teams assisting the tsunami survivors. A radical Islamic group once headed by an al-Qaida-linked terror chief set up a relief camp in Sumatra. The militants, known for attacking Christians on Indonesia's far-flung islands, insisted they would not interfere with foreign troops - so long as they kept to humanitarian operations.

U.S., Australian and South Korean government officials said they were aware of security threats in the region and were taking precautions. One major aid agency said its staff had been ordered not to fly in U.S. helicopters.

Analysts said that Islamic terrorists known to operate in Indonesia would be foolish to try to attack anyone helping the hundreds of thousands of tsunami victims because it could result in aid groups pulling out and sour the militants' chances of building popular support.

In the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, world leaders discussed how to transform one of the largest aid packages ever assembled - nearly $4 billion in pledges - into food for the hungry and shelter for the homeless. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged nations to come forward immediately with the billions they've promised and to break with past practices of promising much and delivering little.

"The disaster was so brutal, so quick, and so far-reaching, that we are still struggling to comprehend it," Annan said. "We will never know the exact magnitude of how many men, women and children perished on 26 December."

Australia leads the world with a total aid pledge of $810 million, followed by Germany, Japan and the United States.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said America would take a wait-and-see attitude before pledging more cash. "These are not insignificant numbers," Powell told reporters.

Japan hinted it might offer more help for those hit in the disaster that ravaged 11 countries - including Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said the $500 million Japan already pledged "was on the small side."