U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday voiced his sadness at news about the deaths and destruction in the suburbs of Oklahoma City as a result of Monday's tornado, and offered the world body's assistance to the U.S. state in the ongoing search and relief efforts.
"The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to hear of the death and destruction in Oklahoma City as a result of Monday's tornado. He sends his deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones and to everyone affected by the storm," the U.N. chief's spokesperson said in a statement issued late on Tuesday.
"The Secretary-General has written to the Governor of Oklahoma, Mary Fallin, to express his solidarity and to offer the assistance of the United Nations, if requested, to help with the recovery efforts," the statement added.
Monday's tornado, which was one of several to hit various cities in the Midwestern United States over the past few days, razed a swath of the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore and left at least 24 people dead, including nine school children. Nearly 240 people were reportedly injured in the storm.
President Barack Obama has since declared a major disaster in Oklahoma state in order to expedite federal resources for supporting the immediate response, and to offer direct assistance to those who have suffered loss.
"As a nation, our full focus right now is on the urgent work of rescue, and the hard work of recovery and rebuilding that lies ahead. The people of Moore should know that their country will remain on the ground, there for them, beside them as long as it takes," Obama said from the White House.
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