The United Nations has sent teams to Indonesia to survey the damage in the wake of a massive earthquake, the UN News Center reported, according to Indonesian news agency Antara. A UN senior official also called for global unity in responding to a series of deadly natural disasters that have struck Asia in recent days. A quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the island of Sumatra on Wednesday (Sept. 10), followed by a series of other strong quakes. Some 1,100 people have been killed by the tremors, with thousands trapped under rubble and still more left homeless. "These numbers, I fear, will rise as more info becomes available," John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told reporters in New York last Thursday. The Indonesian Government`s announcement of a two-month emergency phase is an "indication of the severity of this crisis," he said. A UN team - comprising members from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children`s Fund (UNICEF) and others, has arrived in the city of Padang, with a population of nearly 1 million, in Sumatra. A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) mission was set to arrive in the area on Friday. The Government, which has mobilized an emergency fund of $10 million so far, has said it welcomes international assistance, with telecommunication, electricity and water supplies having been cut off. Roads have been cut off due to landslides. Medical supplies, petrol, generators, sanitation equipment, food and shelter equipment have been identified as priority needs.
