Battle for survival begins

THE United Nations last night began to mobilise what it called the biggest relief operation in its history to cope with the disaster caused by one of the worst tsunamis in history.

David Nabarro, who heads the World Health Organisation’s health crisis team, said up to five million people lacked the basic essentials to survive.

Reeking corpses rotted in the tropical sun from India to Indonesia and many who escaped death fought for survival against thirst and disease.