Calling it a "race against time," United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said it's imperative nations follow through on the billions they've pledged in emergency aid to tsunam-stricken nations.

"Whole communities have disappeared," Annan told a day-long summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. "Millions in Asia, Africa, and even in far away countries, are suffering unimaginable trauma and psychological wounds that will take a long time to heal. Families have been torn apart.

"The disaster was so brutal, so quick, and so far-reaching, that we are still struggling to comprehend it," Annan said.

The focus of world leaders is now shifting from raising relief money to deciding how best to spend it.

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, who represented Canada at the conference, said the change was evident in the tone of the day's meetings in Jakarta.

"The mood is shifting somehow from the urgent humanitarian challenges -- that are still daunting -- and we're moving slowly towards the long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation," Pettigrew told CTV's Canada AM Thursday.

With that in mind, Pettigrew said, the core group of donor nations has now decided to leave those questions to the United Nations.

"The coordination is certainly going to be quite improved as of today," Pettigrew said.

With $4 billion in pledges from world governments, Pettigrew said there appears to be enough money to address the humanitarian crisis triggered by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

"From every assessment we have been seeing... there is enough money," the minister said, explaining that Canada is sticking to its cash pledge of $80 million.

"Clearly, down the line for the longer term reconstruction commitments, we may have to reassess our contribution," he added, noting the equally generous private contribution from Canadians and the deployment of the military's disaster response team.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Paul Martin said at a news conference in Montreal that the $80 million amount will certainly rise.

"It could increase a lot more. It's going to go up. It's clear the needs are there," said Martin.

The increased funding will be announced Jan. 11 when Canada participates in a United Nations meeting in Geneva designed to address the region's long-term needs.

Martin will depart Jan. 15 to visit the devastated areas. His original planned business trip to Asia has been amended so that he will first visit Thailand and Sri Lanka on Jan. 16 and 17, before moving on to India, Japan, China and Hong Kong.

Race against time

Earlier Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told the assembled leaders that the time had come to take the relief effort to the next stage.

"The core group helped to catalyze the international response," Powell said. "Now having served its purpose, it will fold itself into the broader coordination efforts of the United Nations."

In addition to a death toll that will likely exceed 150,000, officials at the conference said an equal number are at extreme risk if a major disease outbreak struck one of the tsunami-stricken areas.

Before the conference was over, the leaders also agreed on the need for the creation of an effective tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean.

"No longer must we leave ourselves so vulnerable and so exposed," Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathaim said. "It is well-proven that 10 minutes advance warning can save hundreds of lives."

In a statement released at the end of their meetings, the 26 nations in attendance said a concerted international effort is now absolutely necessary.

"We believe that through concerted efforts, spurred by a spirit of compassion and sacrifice and endurance, together, we will prevail in overcoming this catastrophe."

Other statements in the declaration include:

• the convening of an "international pledging conference for the sustainability of humanitarian relief efforts"
• the promotion of public education in disaster prevention and mitigation
• delegates "welcome the initiative of several countries on the moratorium of payments of the external debt burden of the affected countries."

Although leaders at the conference showed willingness to move forward on the foreign-owned debt that is choking many developing economies, they made no firm commitments.

Canada has led calls for an indefinite debt moratorium which would temporarily excuse stricken countries from making payments.

But others, including World Bank President James Wolfensohn have countered that aid grants -- which don't have to be paid back at all -- can be better directed to those who need it most.

Annan, however, wouldn't take sides.

"What is important is that the international community does whatever it can to assist the governments in the affected countries,'' the UN Secretary General said. "The issue of debt relief ... is very much on the table and I will wait to see what the countries concerned, the creditor countries, decide.''

With files from The Associated Press