UNITED NATIONS, Dec 27: The United Nations rushed in more aid to the victims of the devastating Tsunami that struck south Asia as it prepared to launch a flash appeal in what a top UN official called
an unprecedented effort by the world body because the disaster was spread over so many countries.
Mr Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator told a news conference in New York that the world body would launch a flash appeal in the coming days to fund aid to the affected regions, where media reports put the latest death toll at over 20,000, with more than 10,000 in Sri Lanka alone.
"This may be the worst natural disaster in recent history because it is affecting so many heavily populated coastal areas ... so many vulnerable communities," Mr England said. "The longer term effects may be as devastating as.... the tsunami itself," said Egeland.
"Many more people are now affected by polluted drinking water. We could have epidemics within a few days unless we get health systems up and running. "Many people will have (had) their livelihoods, their whole future destroyed in a few seconds."
In Sri Lanka, one of the worst hit nations, the UN refugee agency opened up its relief stockpiles to deliver immediate emergency assistance to the Indian Ocean island, where thousands were killed, injured or displaced by the catastrophe.
United Nations warned of epidemics within days unless health systems in southern Asia can cope. Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia suffered the highest death tolls but Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Bangladesh were also hit by the surging walls of water. Government officials estimate in Sri Lanka alone, 800,000 people were forced from their homes.
Experts said the top five issues to be addressed were water, sanitation, food, shelter and health. "We've had reports already from the south of India of bodies rotting where they have fallen and that will immediately affect the water supply especially for the most impoverished people," said Christian Aid emergency officer Dominic Nutt.
Some affected areas have had communications cut. Others are so remote it is impossible to know the extent of the damage. Mr Egeland added that the situation was particularly challenging given that widespread disaster has occurred in several countries.
The UN was "used to dealing with disasters in one country," he said. "But I think something like this spread across many countries and islands is unprecedented. We have not had this before."
