General Assembly President voices deep concern at South-East Asian floods

More than a million people have been affected due to heavy flooding in Cambodia

19 October 2011 –

General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser added his voice today to those of other United Nations officials expressing sympathy and concern at the deaths of hundreds of flood victims in Thailand, Cambodia and other South-East Asian countries.

Beyond the death toll, millions of people have been displaced and badly affected, especially in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Viet Nam, and Mr. Al-Nasser praised UN agencies and Member States who are offering much needed aid.

He noted that improving disaster prevention and response remains one of key focus areas for the Assembly’s 66th session and urged all Member States to do more to enhance the resilience and capacity of communities for dealing with major disasters.

On Saturday UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos voiced great concern over the rising impact of storms and flooding, and yesterday UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs told reporters in Geneva the world body was ready to assist the affected countries to respond to the disaster.