U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell meets Friday with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss Asian disaster relief programs.
The afternoon meeting in New York comes as the Bush administration is stepping up its response to the earthquake and tsunami disaster.
Secretary Powell will depart for the disaster zone on Sunday together with Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the president's brother, who has experience dealing with natural calamities, such as hurricanes, in his home state.
Bush administration officials say such visits will help provide the first hand assessments that will be critical to coordinating the massive relief effort.
U.S. military planes have begun delivering supplies to Thailand and Indonesia, and more extensive shipments to help tsunami survivors are heading for the region aboard U.S. naval vessels
Some information for this report provided by AP.