聯合國災害評估與協調處（UNDAC）5人小組12月23日已抵達巴布亞紐幾內亞，預備勘視北部海岸與鄰近島嶼日前遭受海水倒灌受創情形，以及協助評估當地32,000多名受難者的迫切需求。
高漲的海水一夕之間沖毀人們賴以維生的房屋、糧食，破壞供水系統、作物與園藝機具，導致受難者頓時一無所有。鑒此，當地政府第一階段羅列的必需物資包括：水桶、防水布、濾水藥錠、食物配給和防蟲、防瘧疾所需的蚊帳等。
包含災害評估與協調處在內的跨會評估團體皆已前往東塞皮克省（East Sepik），主要的任務是藉由蒐集具體的損害、影響與需求等資料，協助國家災害資訊處理中心掌握即時與完整的資訊。
與此同時，聯合國兒童基金會第一次空運緊急重要物資，業已於12月22日順利飛抵辛巴威首都哈拉雷（Harare），以支援國內因失控的霍亂疫情而搖搖欲墜的公共衛生體系。
空運物資包括靜脈點滴、點滴設備、基本藥品、婦科與產科用品等等，有了這些物資將可助聯合國兒童基金會一臂之力控制霍亂疫情，並且幫助當地政府提供心急如焚的母親進行基礎醫療服務。
而世界糧食計劃署則於哥倫比亞國內著手進行一項緊急行動，給予受到洪水與火山爆發威脅的3萬多名災民緊急救助。
哥國自2008年9月起因連日來的超大豪雨，使得各地紛紛傳出災情，超過100萬人流離失所且奪走66條人命。據哥國官方指出，洪水災情在西北部地區最為嚴重，迄今從未見過如此滂沱成災的雨季，導致災區逾24,000人等待外界援助。另一方面，哥國南部烏伊拉（Nevado del Huila）火山11月底噴發，造成南部6, 000多人同樣處於等待救助的窘境。
2008年舉凡颶風、洪水與其他因天候異常而起的天然災害事件四起，加上世界各地政府對於災害預警訓練的需求增加，使得聯合國災害應變機關在這一年顯得分身乏術。
聯合國人道事務協調辦公室12月23日於一份聲明中表示，西班牙與阿拉伯聯合大公國相繼於2008年加入後，聯合國災害評估與協調處成員數目向上推升至67名，未來在自然災害發生後，勢必可以結合更多的資源，提供更適妥的緊急援助。
災害評估與協調處也在俄羅斯為獨立國家國協和中東的成員籌組災害預警訓練計劃。2009年起，將針對西非地區成員進行訓練。所有加入聯合國災害評估與協調系統的國家，皆有接受訓練的義務。
災害評估與協調處自1993年設立後，已於全球派遣183個工作小組，包括5組人員於2004末2005初至南亞受海嘯襲擊的國家，以及2005年10月至發生大地震的巴基斯坦，協助這些受創國家能迅速評估當前所需，並且協調現場災害應變工作。
A five-member UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team arrived today in Papua New Guinea to help identify the aid needs of some 32,000 victims of severe sea swells that struck the northern shoreline and neighboring islands.
The swells destroyed houses, food and water supplies, damaged crops and led to the loss of gardening tools. Main needs initially identified by the government include water containers, tarps, water purification tablets, food rations and insecticide-treated anti-malarial bed nets.
An inter-agency assessment group including the UNDAC team has been deployed in East Sepik. The team is supporting the National Disaster Centre in Information Management by compiling available data on damage, impact, and needs.
In another part of the world, the UN Children's Fund's first ever airlift of critical emergency supplies to Zimbabwe landed in Harare on Monday, as Zimbabwe struggles with spreading cholera and a collapsing health system.
The cargo - which includes intravenous fluids, drip equipment, essential drugs, midwifery and obstetric kits - will boost the UNICEF cholera response and help the government to deliver some essential health services to expecting mothers.
The World Food Programme has launched an emergency operation to assist 30,000 people in different parts of Colombia who have been hurt by flooding and avalanches caused by the eruption of a volcano.
Since September, heavy rain has plagued much of Colombia, affecting more than a million people and claiming the lives of 66. In northern and western Colombia, 24,000 people are in need of assistance in what authorities say is the harshest and most destructive rainy season on record. Meanwhile, in southern Colombia, the eruption of the Nevado del Huila volcano in late November left 6,000 people in need of help.
United Nations disaster officials were kept busy this year by the rise in hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters caused by extreme weather as well as by increased demand from governments worldwide for disaster awareness training.
Sixty-seven countries, including Spain and the United Arab Emirates which joined this year, are now part of the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination system to better manage emergency relief after natural disasters strike, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said today in a statement.
UNDAC also organized disaster awareness training programs in Russia for members of the Commonwealth of Independent States and in the Middle East. Next year, it will organize training for the West African region. All countries that join the UNDAC system must receive the training.
UNDAC, which helps disaster-stricken countries rapidly assess priority needs and coordinate relief on-site, has deployed 183 missions since it began in 1993, including five missions to tsunami-affected countries in late 2004 and early 2005, and to Pakistan after an earthquake hit there in October 2005.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
