Madam, - I agree with John O'Shea's recent call for a permanent UN emergency response force (October 12th).
Disaster strikes somewhere in the world nearly every week, yet each time the response must start from scratch. In the 19th century house fires were a regular disaster until governments decided that a professional fire brigade was required.
The UN (through Unicef) already maintains stocks of supplies. The key need is for helicopters, which the UN must beg from member-states after each disaster.
I see no reason why the UN cannot have a standing force of several thousand helicopters positioned around the world, ready to help anywhere at a moment's notice. - Yours, etc,
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MARK SUGRUE, Caherdavin, Limerick.