SECRETARY-GENERAL PROFOUNDLY SADDENED BY LOSS OF LIFE, DESTRUCTION

 

WROUGHT BY POWERFUL STORMS IN PHILIPPINES

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is profoundly saddened by the large-scale loss of life and destruction wrought by the powerful storms that have struck the Philippines in recent days.  He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and to all those affected by this catastrophe. 

The United Nations has been working closely with Philippine authorities in responding to needs created by the disaster and has made emergency cash grants available for the purchase of relief supplies.  Today, the United Nations is deploying a team of experts to assist the Government of the Philippines in assessing the extent of the damage and coordinating the international response to the disaster.

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