U.S. begins withdrawing from tsunami relief efforts

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - The U.S. military - the largest group helping tsunami survivors - will immediately start withdrawing troops from the relief efforts to feed and house more than 1 million refugees, the U.S. Pacific commander said Thursday.

Aid organizations responded to the announcement by Adm. Thomas Fargo with disappointment but pledging to shoulder a greater share of the burden to aid tsunami survivors.

U.S. warships and helicopters "played a crucial role ... they're still playing that role," said Rob Holden, a member of a health assessment team from the United Nations, the U.S. military and other groups. "What we're trying to do ... is civilianize the humanitarian operations because we're aware that we won't have military assets forever."

Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Fargo said the U.S. military "will start right now transferring functions to the appropriate host nations and international organizations."

Fargo noted that the humanitarian missions in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other countries affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami have moved from the "immediate relief phase ... toward rehabilitation and reconstruction."

The admiral suggested the withdrawal of the 15,000 American troops would be completed within 60 days, apparently meeting requests by Indonesian officials that foreign troops leave Aceh province on Sumatra island by the end of March.

Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak said Fargo told him the United States would scale down its Aceh relief operations by the end of February.

At a news conference, Fargo said the U.S. military would "respond to specific requests of host nations," adding that Washington "is committed to what clearly will be a long-term recovery effort."

About 1,000 Singaporean soldiers dispatched for relief efforts will begin pulling out Friday, a Singaporean military official said

Some aid groups had hoped the U.S. military would stay longer.

"The American military, the military hardware has been so useful," said Aine Fay, Indonesia director for the Irish aid group Concern. "I'm a bit taken aback that they're thinking of withdrawing it already."

Peter Biro, spokesman for the International Rescue Committee, said he'd like the U.S. military to remain.

"We're still in an emergency-type phase, there are so many gaps on the ground, we would like them to stay longer," he said.

Some governments, meanwhile, expressed support and thanks Friday for the U.S. help.

"If they think it is the time to pull out they can do that, but they are always welcome and we are ready to accommodate them if they want to come back later," Thai govt spokesman Jakrapob Penkaire said of the U.S. military during a telephone interview with the AP.

The Sri Lankan government said Friday that it will not set a time frame for a U.S. departure.

"U.S. Marines are doing a fine job, specially in debris cleaning operations and this is highly appreciated," said Harim Peiris, the spokesman for President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

The withdrawal of foreign forces comes as the official death toll continues to climb. Almost four weeks after the disaster, reported deaths by government agencies in the affected countries range from nearly 158,000 to more than 221,000.