United Nations Radio

A massive international assistance is underway to assist victims of the deadly tidal waves that struck several countries in South Asia after a series of earthquakes rocked the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia.

Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, or OCHA, as it is called, Yvette Stevens, says the UN's primary role in situations like this is to assist national governments in the coordination of support coming from all over the world, assessment and in resource mobilization:

"OCHA has already deployed the United Nations UNDAC teams to two countries already. And the team to Sri Lanka left yesterday. They are already in place...and the team to Maldives would be there today."

Ms. Stevens says the UN disaster relief teams to Indonesia and Thailand were leaving late Monday. At the same time, discussions continue with other countries to have UN disaster relief teams assist governments in their assessments and in drawing up a flash appeal if needs be.