Speaking as the world marked the one-year anniversary of the deadly tsunami, Benn urged the international community to support a new UN global emergency fund to provide instant resources when disasters strike.

The British minister said the current system -- whereby the United Nations has to issue an emergency appeal for assistance -- was too slow.

"It is crazy to have a system where, when disaster strikes, the UN, as it currently has to, passes round the hat and says: 'Well, will you give us some money so that we can get to work?"' Benn told BBC Radio.

"It is a bit like the fire brigade, before they can go out to deal with a fire, saying: 'Can we have some money to put some diesel in the fire engine? Can you give us some money to buy water to put in the tanks?'

"That is the system we have currently. It doesn't make any sense."

Earlier this month, the UN General Assembly set up an emergency fund, expected to total 500 million dollars (425 million euros), for immediate relief whenever disaster strikes.

The fund, which will rely on pledges from UN member states, the private sector and all concerned institutions, is due to be launched early next year.

Several countries, including Britain, Sweden and Norway, are already taking part in the scheme and Benn called on more governments to contribute.

"I hope as many countries as possible will put in funding up front so that the UN -- which is the body that leads on behalf of the whole of the world when disaster strikes -- has the resources it needs to get to work straightaway," he said.

"This isn't a time for politics, frankly. This is a time for making sure that when disaster strikes, the international body to which we have given the responsibility for providing help -- the United Nations -- has the resources it needs to get on and do the job."

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