UN to launch largest appeal for victims of Asia quake, tsunamis

The United Nations will launch the largest emergency appeal in its history to assist countries hit by Sunday's quake-induced tsunamis, U.N. officials said Tuesday.

Yvette Stevens, U.N. assistant emergency relief coordinator, said that the consolidated appeal, to be launched in early January, is expected to exceed the record $1.6 billion requested by U.N. agencies at the start of the war in Iraq last year.

She made the remarks after a meeting on the crisis between member states and relief agencies.

The largest previous appeal ever launched after a natural disaster involved $350 million for the victims of the Bam earthquake in Iran on Dec. 26 of last year.

The death toll from the powerful earthquake and tsunamis that devastated Southeast and South Asia has risen to 50,928.

At least as many could die from communicable diseases unless health experts and well-coordinated medical assistance are sent to the region within the next two to three weeks, said David Nabarro, the World Health Organization's representative for health action in crises.

''The immediate terror associated with the tsunamis and earthquake will be dwarfed by the long-term suffering of affected communities,'' he said.

WHO is particularly concerned about outbreaks of diarrhea prompted by contaminated waters as well a possible surge of malaria and dengue fever, both endemic to the region.

An increase in respiratory diseases due to overcrowdings of refuge areas as well as environmental pollution caused by chemical leaking from factories and warehouses are also feared.

Fifty to 100 public health professionals will be deployed in the area within one to two weeks, Nabarro said.

The U.N. has sent disaster assessment teams to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Maldives and Thailand to evaluate the extent of the damage.

Humanitarian staff on Tuesday started moving into Indonesia's Aceh Province, where a lack of access and relief infrastructure make it one of the worst affected areas in the whole region.

Their assessment of relief needs is expected within three days, and will be used by the U.N. to launch a preliminary appeal, U.N. officials said.

The officials said at least $81 million worth of emergency aid has already been made available to affected countries by donor countries, including Brazil, China, Greece, Iran and Qatar.

Source: Agencies