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CNN Live At Daybreak

$2 Million Raised in Tsunami Relief; Colin Powell Visits Thailand

Aired January 03, 2005 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, as the tsunami death toll keeps going up, Colin Powell heads to South Asia for a firsthand look. One of the largest U.S. military aid operations in decades picks up speed. We take you live to Banda Aceh in two minutes.
And a new year with tremendous challenges in the Middle East. Can the transition to a new Palestinian leader point the way to peace?

It is Monday, January 3.

This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to arrive in Thailand later this morning. His visit comes as the death toll from last week's earthquake and tsunamis top 155,000. Powell will attend a donor's conference Thursday in Jakarta. Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the president's brother, also on his way to the region.

A little more than three hours ago, a car bomb explodes on a Baghdad street close to the headquarters of Iraq's interim prime minister. Four people are dead. It comes a day after a suicide bomber killed 21 Iraqi National Guard troops and a bus driver.

The first African-American woman elected to Congress has died. Shirley Chisholm died Saturday near Daytona Beach, Florida. She was elected to the U.S. House in 1968 from New York City. Shirley Chisholm was 80 years old.

And in California's Sierra Nevada, even more snow on top of the nine feet dumped on some areas during the past three days. Roads are slippery and there are long traffic delays. And I think that's the understatement of the year -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it sure is.

Trying to break that nine year drought all in one fell swoop. Obviously, snow pack coming in really well there, Carol. And if you can get to the ski resorts, you've had a great time. If you are just stuck in the roads trying to get there, you didn't.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: The death toll from the tsunami disaster is now greater than the population of Florida's capital city, Tallahassee. That's about 155,000 people.

Our senior Asian correspondent Mike Chinoy joins us from Banda Aceh with the latest -- hello, Mike.

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

Well, the relief effort is now in high gear. The Australian Army has made an important step. They've set up a system to begin to provide drinking water, clean drinking water to people. The Australian Army engineers tapped into the Banda Aceh water supply, which is badly polluted. But they installed purification machinery and they're providing water to people.

This is very, very important in terms of preventing the spread of diseases, especially water borne diseases. Already doctors are reporting sharp increases in the number of cases of diarrhea, for example, other stomach disorders. So getting clean drinking water to people is absolutely vital.

But the whole issue of health is made more complicated by the fact that there are still lots and lots of bodies, corpses, in the streets under tons of rubble and in the river, which is a big problem because the origin of the local water supply is the river.

So that is a very, very important step here. But it's still a very, very big challenge.

Meanwhile, U.S. Navy helicopters are increasing the number of missions that they're flying, delivering food, medicine and water to people in the hardest hit areas that remain cut off by any other form of transport -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Mike Chinoy reporting live from Banda Aceh this morning.

Let's check now on relief efforts in Thailand.

Our Paula Hancocks is covering that side of the story.

She filed this report for DAYBREAK just a little while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I've just come back from Hambantota, which is just south-southeast of Sri Lanka. I was following AmeriCares, one of the aid organizations down there. And what I saw was not very much relief getting through at all. I didn't see any other aid organizations. AmeriCares was the only organization in that district.

They took medicine in. They took some antibiotics. They took some medicine to treat some certain diseases that the doctors were worried about that could break out in some of the refugee camps.

But apart from that medicine that I physically saw being handed over in these hospitals, which were very understaffed and very under resourced, I didn't see any other aid getting through or any other groups in that particular area.

Now, one of the reasons, I was told, for this is because some of the coastal roads have been very badly damaged. It's been very difficult to get some of these lorries to the places where the aid is needed the most.

Now, driving from Hambantota along the coastal road west toward Colombo, there were many people standing on the streets -- this was about 10:00 last night -- standing on the streets begging for food, saying they hadn't eaten for a few days. Some of them looked like they hadn't eaten since the tsunamis hit last Sunday.

They were begging on the streets and there didn't seem to be anybody handing out aid. We did see one lorry handing out some coconuts to come people in Hambantota, but they were locals themselves.

Now, the doctors we did follow were stopping at some of the hospitals in Hambantota. We heard stories about just after when the tsunamis hit. They had 900 casualties rushed in with 300 beds and they didn't have enough doctors to deal with this and didn't have enough resources. So the aid that I did see was some medicines, some very needed medicines, getting to those hospitals.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: That was Paula Hancocks reporting.

As we've been reporting, more than $2 billion in aid has been pledged. But getting aid to the victims has been very difficult. Indonesia plans to confer with its neighbors about an early warning system for disasters like the earthquake and tsunamis. Thailand, another nation heavily damaged by the big waves, has expressed interest, as well. And a warning system could be one topic at the aid donor's conference on Thursday in Jakarta.

And, of course, that's where Secretary of State Colin Powell is now heading.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We are ready to participate in such an effort. We have the scientific expertise associated with this kind of a warning system with our NOAH and we want to work with the international community. But the nations in the region have also got to make the commitment to this. And I think they are now ready to make that commitment and we're ready to work with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Powell is leading a U.S. delegation to the disaster region to assess relief needs.

We've got much more on the tsunamis and the massive aid effort that's under way coming up on DAYBREAK.

Anderson Cooper will be live in Sri Lanka. That's beginning tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Switching gears now to news closer to home, Congressman Robert Matsui was called a champion for the underdog, a great leader and a man of integrity.

CNN Congressional correspondent Ed Henry has the story of a life cut short.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Congressman Robert Matsui died Saturday after battling a rare bone marrow disorder. The 63-year-old Democrat represented the Sacramento area of California for 26 years. In the last election, Matsui served as chairman of the House Democrats campaign committee. He was also a party spokesman on Social Security and had been expected to play a key role in this year's contentious debate over reforming the system, one of President Bush's top priorities.

REP. ROBERT MATSUI (D), CALIFORNIA: If, in fact, we're going to privatize Social Security and not provide the transition funds of about $2 trillion over the next 10 years to pay for the transition, you're going to be cutting benefits for all seniors that are currently receiving benefits.

HENRY: As a boy during World War 2, Matsui and his family were thrown into an internment camp. But he went on to become the only Japanese-American ever to serve in the congressional leadership. He leaves behind a wife, son and granddaughter.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: No memorial service has yet been planned, but Matsui will be buried back home in Sacramento. A special election will be held to fill his seat in Congress.

In other news across America this morning, more than 500 people still aren't allowed back in their homes after a hazardous waste disposal plant caught fire in El Dorado, Arkansas. It's not known what caused the fire. The EPA is monitoring the air quality to see when it'll be safe for all residents to come back home. Insecticides, waste oils and other hazardous materials were kept at the plant.

A Catholic priest in Costa Mesa, California is standing up for the rights of two children whose parents are gay. The priest says the kindergarten aged boys deserved an education at the Catholic school he oversees. A group of parishioners asked that they not be allowed in the school and they also petitioned the Vatican.

In Boston, a cup of coffee is causing a commotion. Starbucks has a new ad campaign that features a realistic cup of coffee on top of taxicabs. People who are trying to be helpful are constantly yelling at the cabbies, telling them they forgot their coffee on the roof.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, will the new year resemble the old one? People in the Mideast hope not. We'll have a preview of what's in store for the Israelis and the Palestinians.

But first, it's a tough job. It's getting tougher by the day. The latest on tsunami relief efforts.

And later, tourists enjoying the beach -- it's the last thing you would expect to see a week after a tsunami, but it's happening.

Now it's time to take a look at what else is making news this Monday morning, January 3.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It's 5:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

At least two people are dead following a suicide car bomb blast in Baghdad. The explosion occurred just 50 yards from the headquarters of the interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi's political party.

Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm is dead at the age of 80. Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives back in 1968. She served seven terms in Congress and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

In money news, US Airways has managed to avoid the huge problems that plagued their Christmas holiday schedule. The airline says they suffered no serious problems with their new year's weekend flights.

In culture, "The Fockers" were again America's favorite family for the holidays. "Meet the Fockers" was tops at the new year's weekend box office, with nearly $43 million. The film set records for ticket sales on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

In sports, it took some work, but the St. Louis Rams played their way into the playoffs. The Rams beat the New York Jets 32-29 in overtime to secure the final wildcard spot in the NFC. They'll play the Seahawks Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.

The Jets made it, too, despite the loss -- Chad.

MYERS: Yes.

Hey, good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: You know, I know how much you like college football, Chad.

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: I counted hop many Bowl games were on television.

MYERS: Every one that I watched.

COSTELLO: Twenty-eight Bowl games.

MYERS: Oh, I only got 26, because some were on at the same time.

COSTELLO: That's a ridiculous amount of Bowl games.

MYERS: Those were great.

COSTELLO: A team with a six and five record could make it in.

MYERS: It was a phenomenal weekend, though.

COSTELLO: You're crazy.

MYERS: Louisville really played a great game, as well.

COSTELLO: Yes...

MYERS: Against Boise State.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Chad.

MYERS: You bet.

COSTELLO: A U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell due to arrive in South Asia today.

Is more U.S. help on the way?

Plus, a deadly day in Baghdad. We'll look at what's being done to keep the elections later this month from being unmarred by even more violence. We'll go live to Iraq this hour.

You're watching DAYBREAK for a Monday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to arrive in South Asia some time this morning. They'll get a firsthand look at the enormous damage caused by last week's earthquake and tsunamis. They're trying to determine what more the U.S. can do.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux has more on the U.S. response.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): American Seahawk helicopters arrived with food, energy drinks and hope. Critical supplies are now getting to tsunami survivors. A U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Colin Powell and the president's brother, Florida's Governor Jeb Bush, is on the way to the region. Before departing, Powell defended the U.S. response to the tsunami crisis, which critics initially called paltry and slow.

POWELL: $350 million, two carrier groups, thousands of troops. When you look on television this morning, Wolf, what you're seeing are American helicopters landing and delivering assistance.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: This devastation, what happened in Florida pales by comparison to what happened in these countries and I think it's appropriate for a delegation of people to make an assessment and also to show that our country really cares.

MALVEAUX: It's the largest American military operation in Southern Asia since the Vietnam War. Relief workers say now, just as important as cash contributions is finding the means to deliver the aid that's pouring in.

JAN EGELAND, U.N. UNDERSECRETARY-GENERAL: Those helicopters that are now ferrying out relief to isolated villages on the Sumatra coast, for example, from the United States and from other partner countries, those helicopters are worth their weight in gold now for us.

MALVEAUX: President Bush returned to wave from his week long vacation at his Texas ranch, vowing that the U.S. would lead an international coalition to help with the immediate humanitarian needs and long-term reconstruction in Southern Asia.

Over the weekend, he issued a proclamation, ordering all U.S. flags at government buildings be lowered to half staff starting Monday to show respect for the tsunami survivors. The U.S. delegation traveling to the region will visit those areas hardest hit by the disaster.

First, in Thailand, to meet with officials in Bangkok and survey the damage in Phuket, the popular tourist destination where thousands of visitors and locals were swept to sea. To Indonesia, Jakarta, where Powell will represent the U.S. at an international conference to coordinate the relief effort. And to the coastal town of Aceh, the epicenter of the disaster, where the wave wiped out whole villages. And possibly Sri Lanka, where the death toll now approaches 50,000.

(on camera): Secretary Powell says this is not just a HMM mission, but a matter of U.S. national security, that the region must be stabilized, that if the masses become desperate or demoralized, they'll fall prey to terrorist organizations who will come in to recruit.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: We want to go beyond the sound bite this morning to the story of two tsunami survivors. Frank and Lynn Guziec were at sea on a snorkeling trip when a tsunami hit offshore islands and the coast of Thailand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK GUZIEC, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: When we got back to shore, we started seeing things like ships up in trees and we saw a ship sinking. We saw huge areas of debris with propane tanks, tents. You couldn't even imagine what would have been floating there, but these were just huge areas. And ultimately got to the area where we left from, that was a bustling port with souvenir shops and restaurants. And it was completely gone.

They managed to get us to be able to scramble across some boats and lowered some tires down that we could, in fact, climb up to the pier. But the devastation was just astonishing. It is -- it was as if it had been bombed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Frank and Lynn Guziec talked with CNN in Austin, Texas.

The massive earthquake that triggered killer tsunamis struck nine days ago, 100 miles off the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The full scope was not immediately realized, but it was obvious early on that a disaster was in the making.

Let's look back now at how it all began just before 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Christmas Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The worst earthquake in at least 40 years has triggered huge waves in southern and Southeast Asia, killing at least 10,000 people. The highest death tolls are in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's coming again! It's coming again! Back up!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey. Hey. Hey.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my god, this is a tidal wave.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Tsunami!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That wave is a good 15, 20 feet tall, easy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get in! Get in! Get in!

NATE BERKUS, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: We desperately, desperately need help from the government here. We're without water. We're without food. And many of us are injured.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The next wave, perhaps the greatest relief effort ever mounted is under way at this hour. The U.S. joins aid agencies mobilizing to head off an epidemic.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our prayers go out to the people who have lost so much to this series of disasters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was a terrible roaring rose. And we looked through the glass doors and this torrent of mighty water just came down the steps and through the doors. And washed me away into a playroom. And glass doors were smashed by the water. And I just couldn't keep my footing. I was very frightened.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: As you know by now, the death toll in Asia has climbed today past 135,000. Tens of thousands of people are unaccounted for still and millions remain in desperate need of shelter and food and medical treatment.

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: The effects of this tragedy will be felt for a very long time. So I urge all of you to be generous in your contributions. Together, we will work to rebuild the lives, livelihoods and communities devastated by this catastrophe. Together, we will send a message of hope.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And the death and destruction estimates kept rising as 2004 ended. Aid workers say the recovery effort will be massive and quite long-term.

For more on the impact of the tsunamis, be sure to stay here with DAYBREAK.

There's also much more to be seen tonight. Join Anderson Cooper as he broadcasts live from Sri Lanka. That starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

And here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

Relief -- victims of the tsunami disaster badly need it, especially in Sri Lanka. But some of them just aren't getting it. We'll tell you why.

Also, it's been a painful past year for the Israelis and the Palestinians. But as they start the new year, we'll tell you about their hopes for a new beginning.

You're watching DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you.

Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, with the death toll topping 155,000, a U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell is heading for the South Asia tsunami disaster area. First stop for the Powell delegation will be Bangkok, Thailand. Powell then hopes to visit the hard hit Indonesian province of Aceh.

A suicide truck bomb explosion this morning in Baghdad killed at least four people, three of them police officers. The blast was near the headquarters of the prime minister's political party, but no one there was hurt.

Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress, has died in Florida at the age of 80. Chisholm served seven terms as a House member from New York and was an outspoken advocate for women and minorities.

And you've got to be a sled do to appreciate this, but Interstate 80 has now been reopened after being blocked by heavy snow in California's high Sierra. Some Tahoe ski resorts got nine feet of snow in three days. That could almost be too much for skiers -- Chad.

MYERS: It is too much. And, in fact, some of the winds there, Carol, were 125 miles per hour on the very top of the ski lifts, on the top of the ridges. And that obviously is way too much to ski in or even get the lifts moving in. But it's also dangerous when it comes to making avalanche drifts. And they had that. And they've been working on those avalanches, sending those charges into the avalanches, letting them slide down harmlessly when people are not on the slopes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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Aired January 3, 2005 - 05:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, as the tsunami death toll keeps going up, Colin Powell heads to South Asia for a firsthand look. One of the largest U.S. military aid operations in decades picks up speed. We take you live to Banda Aceh in two minutes.
And a new year with tremendous challenges in the Middle East. Can the transition to a new Palestinian leader point the way to peace?

It is Monday, January 3.

This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to arrive in Thailand later this morning. His visit comes as the death toll from last week's earthquake and tsunamis top 155,000. Powell will attend a donor's conference Thursday in Jakarta. Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the president's brother, also on his way to the region.

A little more than three hours ago, a car bomb explodes on a Baghdad street close to the headquarters of Iraq's interim prime minister. Four people are dead. It comes a day after a suicide bomber killed 21 Iraqi National Guard troops and a bus driver.

The first African-American woman elected to Congress has died. Shirley Chisholm died Saturday near Daytona Beach, Florida. She was elected to the U.S. House in 1968 from New York City. Shirley Chisholm was 80 years old.

And in California's Sierra Nevada, even more snow on top of the nine feet dumped on some areas during the past three days. Roads are slippery and there are long traffic delays. And I think that's the understatement of the year -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it sure is.

Trying to break that nine year drought all in one fell swoop. Obviously, snow pack coming in really well there, Carol. And if you can get to the ski resorts, you've had a great time. If you are just stuck in the roads trying to get there, you didn't.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: The death toll from the tsunami disaster is now greater than the population of Florida's capital city, Tallahassee. That's about 155,000 people.

Our senior Asian correspondent Mike Chinoy joins us from Banda Aceh with the latest -- hello, Mike.

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

Well, the relief effort is now in high gear. The Australian Army has made an important step. They've set up a system to begin to provide drinking water, clean drinking water to people. The Australian Army engineers tapped into the Banda Aceh water supply, which is badly polluted. But they installed purification machinery and they're providing water to people.

This is very, very important in terms of preventing the spread of diseases, especially water borne diseases. Already doctors are reporting sharp increases in the number of cases of diarrhea, for example, other stomach disorders. So getting clean drinking water to people is absolutely vital.

But the whole issue of health is made more complicated by the fact that there are still lots and lots of bodies, corpses, in the streets under tons of rubble and in the river, which is a big problem because the origin of the local water supply is the river.

So that is a very, very important step here. But it's still a very, very big challenge.

Meanwhile, U.S. Navy helicopters are increasing the number of missions that they're flying, delivering food, medicine and water to people in the hardest hit areas that remain cut off by any other form of transport -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Mike Chinoy reporting live from Banda Aceh this morning.

Let's check now on relief efforts in Thailand.

Our Paula Hancocks is covering that side of the story.

She filed this report for DAYBREAK just a little while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I've just come back from Hambantota, which is just south-southeast of Sri Lanka. I was following AmeriCares, one of the aid organizations down there. And what I saw was not very much relief getting through at all. I didn't see any other aid organizations. AmeriCares was the only organization in that district.

They took medicine in. They took some antibiotics. They took some medicine to treat some certain diseases that the doctors were worried about that could break out in some of the refugee camps.

But apart from that medicine that I physically saw being handed over in these hospitals, which were very understaffed and very under resourced, I didn't see any other aid getting through or any other groups in that particular area.

Now, one of the reasons, I was told, for this is because some of the coastal roads have been very badly damaged. It's been very difficult to get some of these lorries to the places where the aid is needed the most.

Now, driving from Hambantota along the coastal road west toward Colombo, there were many people standing on the streets -- this was about 10:00 last night -- standing on the streets begging for food, saying they hadn't eaten for a few days. Some of them looked like they hadn't eaten since the tsunamis hit last Sunday.

They were begging on the streets and there didn't seem to be anybody handing out aid. We did see one lorry handing out some coconuts to come people in Hambantota, but they were locals themselves.

Now, the doctors we did follow were stopping at some of the hospitals in Hambantota. We heard stories about just after when the tsunamis hit. They had 900 casualties rushed in with 300 beds and they didn't have enough doctors to deal with this and didn't have enough resources. So the aid that I did see was some medicines, some very needed medicines, getting to those hospitals.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: That was Paula Hancocks reporting.

As we've been reporting, more than $2 billion in aid has been pledged. But getting aid to the victims has been very difficult. Indonesia plans to confer with its neighbors about an early warning system for disasters like the earthquake and tsunamis. Thailand, another nation heavily damaged by the big waves, has expressed interest, as well. And a warning system could be one topic at the aid donor's conference on Thursday in Jakarta.

And, of course, that's where Secretary of State Colin Powell is now heading.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We are ready to participate in such an effort. We have the scientific expertise associated with this kind of a warning system with our NOAH and we want to work with the international community. But the nations in the region have also got to make the commitment to this. And I think they are now ready to make that commitment and we're ready to work with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Powell is leading a U.S. delegation to the disaster region to assess relief needs.

We've got much more on the tsunamis and the massive aid effort that's under way coming up on DAYBREAK.

Anderson Cooper will be live in Sri Lanka. That's beginning tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Switching gears now to news closer to home, Congressman Robert Matsui was called a champion for the underdog, a great leader and a man of integrity.

CNN Congressional correspondent Ed Henry has the story of a life cut short.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Congressman Robert Matsui died Saturday after battling a rare bone marrow disorder. The 63-year-old Democrat represented the Sacramento area of California for 26 years. In the last election, Matsui served as chairman of the House Democrats campaign committee. He was also a party spokesman on Social Security and had been expected to play a key role in this year's contentious debate over reforming the system, one of President Bush's top priorities.

REP. ROBERT MATSUI (D), CALIFORNIA: If, in fact, we're going to privatize Social Security and not provide the transition funds of about $2 trillion over the next 10 years to pay for the transition, you're going to be cutting benefits for all seniors that are currently receiving benefits.

HENRY: As a boy during World War 2, Matsui and his family were thrown into an internment camp. But he went on to become the only Japanese-American ever to serve in the congressional leadership. He leaves behind a wife, son and granddaughter.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: No memorial service has yet been planned, but Matsui will be buried back home in Sacramento. A special election will be held to fill his seat in Congress.

In other news across America this morning, more than 500 people still aren't allowed back in their homes after a hazardous waste disposal plant caught fire in El Dorado, Arkansas. It's not known what caused the fire. The EPA is monitoring the air quality to see when it'll be safe for all residents to come back home. Insecticides, waste oils and other hazardous materials were kept at the plant.

A Catholic priest in Costa Mesa, California is standing up for the rights of two children whose parents are gay. The priest says the kindergarten aged boys deserved an education at the Catholic school he oversees. A group of parishioners asked that they not be allowed in the school and they also petitioned the Vatican.

In Boston, a cup of coffee is causing a commotion. Starbucks has a new ad campaign that features a realistic cup of coffee on top of taxicabs. People who are trying to be helpful are constantly yelling at the cabbies, telling them they forgot their coffee on the roof.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, will the new year resemble the old one? People in the Mideast hope not. We'll have a preview of what's in store for the Israelis and the Palestinians.

But first, it's a tough job. It's getting tougher by the day. The latest on tsunami relief efforts.

And later, tourists enjoying the beach -- it's the last thing you would expect to see a week after a tsunami, but it's happening.

Now it's time to take a look at what else is making news this Monday morning, January 3.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It's 5:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

At least two people are dead following a suicide car bomb blast in Baghdad. The explosion occurred just 50 yards from the headquarters of the interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi's political party.

Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm is dead at the age of 80. Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives back in 1968. She served seven terms in Congress and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

In money news, US Airways has managed to avoid the huge problems that plagued their Christmas holiday schedule. The airline says they suffered no serious problems with their new year's weekend flights.

In culture, "The Fockers" were again America's favorite family for the holidays. "Meet the Fockers" was tops at the new year's weekend box office, with nearly $43 million. The film set records for ticket sales on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

In sports, it took some work, but the St. Louis Rams played their way into the playoffs. The Rams beat the New York Jets 32-29 in overtime to secure the final wildcard spot in the NFC. They'll play the Seahawks Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.

The Jets made it, too, despite the loss -- Chad.

MYERS: Yes.

Hey, good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: You know, I know how much you like college football, Chad.

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: I counted hop many Bowl games were on television.

MYERS: Every one that I watched.

COSTELLO: Twenty-eight Bowl games.

MYERS: Oh, I only got 26, because some were on at the same time.

COSTELLO: That's a ridiculous amount of Bowl games.

MYERS: Those were great.

COSTELLO: A team with a six and five record could make it in.

MYERS: It was a phenomenal weekend, though.

COSTELLO: You're crazy.

MYERS: Louisville really played a great game, as well.

COSTELLO: Yes...

MYERS: Against Boise State.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Chad.

MYERS: You bet.

COSTELLO: A U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell due to arrive in South Asia today.

Is more U.S. help on the way?

Plus, a deadly day in Baghdad. We'll look at what's being done to keep the elections later this month from being unmarred by even more violence. We'll go live to Iraq this hour.

You're watching DAYBREAK for a Monday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to arrive in South Asia some time this morning. They'll get a firsthand look at the enormous damage caused by last week's earthquake and tsunamis. They're trying to determine what more the U.S. can do.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux has more on the U.S. response.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): American Seahawk helicopters arrived with food, energy drinks and hope. Critical supplies are now getting to tsunami survivors. A U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Colin Powell and the president's brother, Florida's Governor Jeb Bush, is on the way to the region. Before departing, Powell defended the U.S. response to the tsunami crisis, which critics initially called paltry and slow.

POWELL: $350 million, two carrier groups, thousands of troops. When you look on television this morning, Wolf, what you're seeing are American helicopters landing and delivering assistance.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: This devastation, what happened in Florida pales by comparison to what happened in these countries and I think it's appropriate for a delegation of people to make an assessment and also to show that our country really cares.

MALVEAUX: It's the largest American military operation in Southern Asia since the Vietnam War. Relief workers say now, just as important as cash contributions is finding the means to deliver the aid that's pouring in.

JAN EGELAND, U.N. UNDERSECRETARY-GENERAL: Those helicopters that are now ferrying out relief to isolated villages on the Sumatra coast, for example, from the United States and from other partner countries, those helicopters are worth their weight in gold now for us.

MALVEAUX: President Bush returned to wave from his week long vacation at his Texas ranch, vowing that the U.S. would lead an international coalition to help with the immediate humanitarian needs and long-term reconstruction in Southern Asia.

Over the weekend, he issued a proclamation, ordering all U.S. flags at government buildings be lowered to half staff starting Monday to show respect for the tsunami survivors. The U.S. delegation traveling to the region will visit those areas hardest hit by the disaster.

First, in Thailand, to meet with officials in Bangkok and survey the damage in Phuket, the popular tourist destination where thousands of visitors and locals were swept to sea. To Indonesia, Jakarta, where Powell will represent the U.S. at an international conference to coordinate the relief effort. And to the coastal town of Aceh, the epicenter of the disaster, where the wave wiped out whole villages. And possibly Sri Lanka, where the death toll now approaches 50,000.

(on camera): Secretary Powell says this is not just a HMM mission, but a matter of U.S. national security, that the region must be stabilized, that if the masses become desperate or demoralized, they'll fall prey to terrorist organizations who will come in to recruit.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: We want to go beyond the sound bite this morning to the story of two tsunami survivors. Frank and Lynn Guziec were at sea on a snorkeling trip when a tsunami hit offshore islands and the coast of Thailand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK GUZIEC, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: When we got back to shore, we started seeing things like ships up in trees and we saw a ship sinking. We saw huge areas of debris with propane tanks, tents. You couldn't even imagine what would have been floating there, but these were just huge areas. And ultimately got to the area where we left from, that was a bustling port with souvenir shops and restaurants. And it was completely gone.

They managed to get us to be able to scramble across some boats and lowered some tires down that we could, in fact, climb up to the pier. But the devastation was just astonishing. It is -- it was as if it had been bombed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Frank and Lynn Guziec talked with CNN in Austin, Texas.

The massive earthquake that triggered killer tsunamis struck nine days ago, 100 miles off the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The full scope was not immediately realized, but it was obvious early on that a disaster was in the making.

Let's look back now at how it all began just before 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Christmas Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The worst earthquake in at least 40 years has triggered huge waves in southern and Southeast Asia, killing at least 10,000 people. The highest death tolls are in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's coming again! It's coming again! Back up!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey. Hey. Hey.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my god, this is a tidal wave.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Tsunami!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That wave is a good 15, 20 feet tall, easy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get in! Get in! Get in!

NATE BERKUS, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: We desperately, desperately need help from the government here. We're without water. We're without food. And many of us are injured.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The next wave, perhaps the greatest relief effort ever mounted is under way at this hour. The U.S. joins aid agencies mobilizing to head off an epidemic.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our prayers go out to the people who have lost so much to this series of disasters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was a terrible roaring rose. And we looked through the glass doors and this torrent of mighty water just came down the steps and through the doors. And washed me away into a playroom. And glass doors were smashed by the water. And I just couldn't keep my footing. I was very frightened.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: As you know by now, the death toll in Asia has climbed today past 135,000. Tens of thousands of people are unaccounted for still and millions remain in desperate need of shelter and food and medical treatment.

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: The effects of this tragedy will be felt for a very long time. So I urge all of you to be generous in your contributions. Together, we will work to rebuild the lives, livelihoods and communities devastated by this catastrophe. Together, we will send a message of hope.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And the death and destruction estimates kept rising as 2004 ended. Aid workers say the recovery effort will be massive and quite long-term.

For more on the impact of the tsunamis, be sure to stay here with DAYBREAK.

There's also much more to be seen tonight. Join Anderson Cooper as he broadcasts live from Sri Lanka. That starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

And here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

Relief -- victims of the tsunami disaster badly need it, especially in Sri Lanka. But some of them just aren't getting it. We'll tell you why.

Also, it's been a painful past year for the Israelis and the Palestinians. But as they start the new year, we'll tell you about their hopes for a new beginning.

You're watching DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you.

Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, with the death toll topping 155,000, a U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell is heading for the South Asia tsunami disaster area. First stop for the Powell delegation will be Bangkok, Thailand. Powell then hopes to visit the hard hit Indonesian province of Aceh.

A suicide truck bomb explosion this morning in Baghdad killed at least four people, three of them police officers. The blast was near the headquarters of the prime minister's political party, but no one there was hurt.

Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress, has died in Florida at the age of 80. Chisholm served seven terms as a House member from New York and was an outspoken advocate for women and minorities.

And you've got to be a sled do to appreciate this, but Interstate 80 has now been reopened after being blocked by heavy snow in California's high Sierra. Some Tahoe ski resorts got nine feet of snow in three days. That could almost be too much for skiers -- Chad.

MYERS: It is too much. And, in fact, some of the winds there, Carol, were 125 miles per hour on the very top of the ski lifts, on the top of the ridges. And that obviously is way too much to ski in or even get the lifts moving in. But it's also dangerous when it comes to making avalanche drifts. And they had that. And they've been working on those avalanches, sending those charges into the avalanches, letting them slide down harmlessly when people are not on the slopes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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