Colombo, January 4 United States marines led by Brigadier General Frank Pather who landed in Sri Lamka today are expected to take some of the heat out of the local aid distribution operations that have run into severe criticism. But it is expected that it will take until Friday before the impact of the Marines will be felt in the areas where they are to be deployed, while the expected visit of US secretary of State Colin Powell is seen as a sign of recognition of the apocalyptic size of the disaster that has hit the island nation.

There are areas of serious concern. Apart charges of corruption, committee bureaucracy tying up relief operations, and the hijacking of trucks carrying much needed aid to cut off places, Sri Lankan Police and army personnel have been rounding up suspected looters . Another hazard on Tuesday was the heavy downpour that held up relief work.

Yet the most serious charges here are that coordination efforts have been not only chaotic but in certain cases the privileged being given food, clothing and medical aid ahead of areas more seriously affected. This emerged when International Red Cross officials were ordered, it is said, to offload goods in an area along the southeast coast that had already received its fair share of aid. Yet 5 km away about 200 orphans and widows and displaced families in a temporary camp were still waiting today for aid promised on Sunday.

Also, because hospitals in some of the more remote areas, were seriously damaged, an NGO official said that red tape had led to accusations some lives were lost because medical aid arrived too late. It was claimed that all members of the committee formed to handle medical needs in a region east of Matara had to be in agreement over the distribution of medicines and medical equipment. This had taken longer than expected.

Another area of concern was that medical officials in the capital had been alerted that those who were place in charge of the children were selling orphaned children. Dr Uditha Herath, assistant secretary of the General Medical Officers Association said sale of children as well as cases of sexual abuse were emerging from some camps.