Secretary-General Closely Monitoring Developments in Chile after Huge Earthquake,

Says United Nations on Standby to Offer Rapid Assistance

 

The following statement was issued on Saturday, 27 February, by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is very closely monitoring developments, including the risk of Pacific Rim tsunamis, after the huge earthquake in Chile.

The Secretary-General expresses his condolences to those who have lost family and friends, and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.

He is also seeking to contact the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), which is based in Santiago, for an assessment of the earthquake and information on United Nations staff.

The United Nations system, through its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, is on standby to offer rapid assistance to the Chilean Government and people.

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For information media • not an official record