The United Nations is ready to assist Indonesia after the country was struck by a strong earthquake which reportedly has killed more than 1,000 people, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday in a statement.
Annan said he was deeply distressed at the news of a powerful earthquake off Sumatra in Indonesia Monday, and his heart goes out to the families of the many victims of this disaster as well as to the government of Indonesia.
He has sent disaster coordination teams to the area to work with the Indonesian government as well as with nongovernmental organizations to help assess the damage while UN agencies work with others to help relieve the suffering.
He pledged that the United Nations will support the people of Indonesia at this difficult hour, and ensured its readiness to help with reconstruction efforts at the appropriate time.