United Nations Radio

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says it's doing everything it can to bring help as rapidly as possible to the victims of the tidal waves.

Spokesman Ron Redmond says UNHCR will provide plastic sheeting, plastic mats, rope and non-food relief packages with cooking sets, mosquito nets and clothing for thousands of families:

"The full extent of the disaster in Sri Lanka still isn't known. Communications networks within the country have collapsed in many places so there's very little information from some of the more remote areas where access is difficult. UNHCR will provide whatever immediate humanitarian support it can until international relief items arrive in the country."

UNHCR says it's being assisted by a Dutch non-governmental organization with which it works closely on refugee programmes.