The United Nations is sending a disaster assessment and coordination team throughout the Asian region where earthquakes and floods devastated areas of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Thailand on Sunday. "The United Nations stands ready to provide the assistance necessary to meet the needs created by these natural disasters," U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said. "U.N. disaster assessment and coordination teams are being dispatched through the region to work with governments of affected countries in providing rescue and relief assistance," he said. He gave no further details. A "profoundly saddened" Secretary-General Kofi Annan extended his condolences to the people and governments of the affected countries coping with catastrophic losses, Eckhard said.
