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| Tuesday, 28 December 2004 |
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A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team from the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Office in Geneva is arriving in Sri Lanka to assist in the assessment and relief coordination activities. This is part of their emergency disaster relief program initiated following the State call for assistance from international community and relief organisations in the aftermath of the 'tidal wave disaster' that killed over 5,000 and displaced 1 million people in the coastal areas of the country. This 8 member assessment mission include representatives from UNDP, UNICEF and WHO. The team, working in collaboration with National Disaster Management Centre, will visit affected areas and have meetings with relevant officials including Government Agents. The UN agencies responding to the appeal has already announced several measures. UNDP has made available a cash grant of US $ 100,000 and has organised a team of UN volunteers with wide experience in disaster relief to assist with coordination and information management in each of the affected districts. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is in the process of despatching 10,000 bed sheets, towels, drinking water bottles, cooking utensil sets and mats to the affected areas. The World Food Programme (WFP) is to provide nearly 4,000 metric tons of rice, wheat, lentils, and sugar valued at $ 1.2 million. Its initial plan is to reach more than 400,000 people in the affected districts. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is despatching 17,000 plastic mats, 18,000 plastic sheets, 2,000 non-food items and water and powdered milk. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will assist the Government in mobilising its field staff in affected districts for emergency-related work. Further, it will provide necessary rehabilitation assistance to the food and agriculture sector after making an assessment of the damage. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a statement on Sunday expressed profound sadness over massive loss of life and destruction and said "the United Nations stands ready to provide the assistance necessary to meet the needs created by this natural disaster". |
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