The Hindu : International : 'Millions need basic supplies'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

International

International

'Millions need basic supplies'

GENEVA, DEC. 30. Up to five million people in the tsunami-struck Indian Ocean region lack access to the basic supplies they need to stay alive, the United Nations health agency said on Thursday.

``This is the most serious natural disaster to affect the region for several decades,'' said World Health Organisation Director-General, Lee Jong-wook.

``The health needs of the populations affected are immediate and substantial.''

WHO estimated it needs $40 million to supply 3-5 million people in the region with clean water, shelter, food, sanitation and health care. ``Unless the necessary funds are urgently mobilised and coordinated in the field we could see as many fatalities from diseases as we have seen from the actual disaster itself,'' said Dr. David Nabarro, head of crisis operations at WHO.

``The tsunami was not preventable, but preventing unnecessary deaths and suffering is.'' Governments are still trying to determine how many were killed in the devastation wreaked by Sunday's quake and the tsunamis it caused. The worst-hit have been Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and the Maldives.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has created a Web site for donations to its aid appeal.

Establish presence

Jamie McGoldrick, an emergency relief coordinator of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, said, ``Agencies are now starting to beef up their presence, and I think more importantly for us, we're starting to establish presence in Bandah Aceh, which we think is one of the biggest concerns.'' ``We're actively seeking to strengthen that presence.''

Mr. Nabarro added: ``I'm pretty certain the supplies are there, much more it's distributing those supplies to where they're needed, particularly in areas where the infrastructure's so damaged, like Aceh.''

— AP

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