Jan. 1 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said the U.S. will do what is necessary, including providing $350 million in aid, to help countries affected by the tsunamis that killed an estimated 150,000 people in 11 nations in Asia and Africa.

``We offer our love and compassion, and our assurance that America will be there to help,'' Bush said in his weekly radio address today from his vacation home in Crawford, Texas. Bush used the address to explain the government's efforts to assist those hurt by the tsunamis caused by a Dec. 26 earthquake.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the president's brother, will go tomorrow to the worst- affected areas, Bush said. The U.S. delegation will meet with local leaders and international groups, and $15 million of U.S. aid has already been sent to relief organizations, Bush said. A State Department spokesman said planes and helicopters are flying aid into the hardest-hit areas.

The U.S. is working with India, Japan and Australia and has established a support center in Thailand. U.S. officials made more than 20 patrol and cargo aircraft available to examine the damage and deliver supplies, Bush said. He also sent the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to the area to support relief efforts.

``Communications, roads and medical facilities have been badly damaged,'' Bush said. ``Disease has become a very real threat.'' The U.S. will soon be able to help generate clean water for those affected by the tsunamis, the president said.

Thousands Still Missing

Yesterday, Bush increased to $350 million the U.S. pledge of recovery help, up from $35 million offered earlier in the week.

Relief agencies have received $2 billion in pledges from 44 countries.

Thousands of people are still reported missing after the giant waves devastated coasts from Thailand to Somalia. Aid agencies' efforts have been hampered by severed communication links and flooded roads, leaving them unable to deliver food, water and medicines.

State Department spokesman Lou Fintor said the U.S. is using 80 trucks to ferry aid into Banda Aceh, capital of the worst- stricken province of Indonesia. Eight planes are shuttling into and out of Sri Lanka, he said.

``The U.S.S. Lincoln helicopters are in the air and flying in and out'' of stricken areas, he added. ``Deliveries of food and supplies are under way.'' He said U.S. C-130 aircraft are ``flying into the hardest-hit areas to bring food and water.''

15 Dead From U.S.

Fifteen Americans have died, eight in Thailand and seven in Sri Lanka, Fintor said. Calls continue to pour into the State Department, which has accounted for ``many hundreds'' of U.S. survivors, he said.

A press release on the website of the U.S. Navy Command in Japan said 12 ships from the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command will support the U.S. relief efforts. Six of them can support 15,000 Marines for 30 days with food, fuel, medical supplies, road, power generating, hospital and other equipment, it said.

The squadron has 43 water purification units that can make 600 gallons of drinking water from seawater per hour, the statement said.

A team of experts will accompany Powell and Jeb Bush to the region, and their schedule was still being worked out, Fintor said.

``We will be coordinating stops with the countries involved so as not to disrupt relief operations,'' Fintor said.

Bush ordered U.S. flags flown at half-staff on federal property, military installations and U.S. embassies from tomorrow until Jan. 7.

Democratic Response

Bush said anyone who wants to donate to the relief effort can do so through the http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov Internet site.

In the Democratic response to Bush's radio address, Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina expressed condolences for the ``terrible loss of life'' resulting from the tsunamis.

``All Americans stand ready to work quickly to provide the appropriate assistance to help with this enormous tragedy,'' Clyburn said.

The congressman also said that during 2005 Democrats will oppose ``gambling Social Security benefits on the stock market,'' and he called on the government to adequately equip U.S. troops in Iraq and provide more funds to educate U.S. children.

To contact the reporter on this story: William McQuillen in Crawford, Texas at bmcquillen@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 1, 2005 16:07 EST