UN readies earthquake aid for Chile after receiving government request for help

UN readies Chile quake aid after gov’t seeks help

GENEVA — The United Nations says it will rush aid deliveries to Chile after the government asked for help in its recovery from this weekend’s massive earthquake.

U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs says Chile officially made its request Monday, two days after the 8.8-magnitude quake struck about 325 kilometers (200 miles) south of the capital, Santiago, and killed over 700 people.

Byrs told the AP that the global body was now “ready to take action.”

Before the request, international aid groups had sent some funds and experts. But their action was limited as Chilean officials were busy assessing the destruction from the earthquake and the needs of up to 2 million affected people.