Less than one-tenth of EU aid pledged for reconstruction efforts in countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami has been paid out, according to an analysis by the UK's EU presidency. Following the 26 December 2004 disaster, which claimed more than 250,000 lives, the 25 EU governments promised a total of €1.6 billion to help rebuild the devastated areas. By late October, however, just €112 million of that amount had been distributed. The €1.6bn pledge was separate from the emergency relief operations undertaken by the European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO). Out of €123m earmarked by ECHO, €100m has been committed...