As relief and aid from around the world rushed to earthquake-devastated Haiti, coordination of the material at the airport in Port-au-Prince has become overwhelming for the UN.
"I have been emphasising the importance of coordination among countries and NGOs and international workers. The situation is overwhelming. And the offer of assistance is also very moving and overwhelming," UN Chief Ban Ki-moon told journalists when he visited the Caribbean nation yesterday.
"The airport has limited capacity. We need to make sure our help is getting to people who need it, as fast as possible. We can not waste one minute, one dollar, or one person. We cannot have vital supplies sitting in warehouses," he added.
Ban met Haitian president Rene Preval and said the UN will be leading the coordination efforts Haiti while the US recognised the world body to be at the helm of the operation.
"Effective and coherent coordination at this time will be very important. The United States and the United Nations are very closely coordinating in addressing this issue," Ban said.
"I have been discussing this matter with President Barack Obama and other senior officials, and they are supporting the United Nations, its coordinating role as a lead international organisation, there is no doubt about that," he added.
The operations are led by Edmond Mulet, acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Kim Bolduc, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General.