The global chemical company, BASF, has signed a partnership agreement with UN-HABITAT under which it will provide US$ 500,000 and technical experts for tsunami relief and rehabilitation work in Sri Lanka.

UN-HABITAT's Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, said: "What we are striving for is to strengthen local authorities, community organizations and non-governmental organizations so they may be more effective in the spheres of education, health, poverty eradication, human rights, social integration, and infrastructure," Mrs. Tibaijuka told a news conference on Wednesday. The agreement was signed at a parallel event during the twentieth session of UN-HABITAT's Governing Council.

She said the partnership would provide an innovative solution in support of shelter and sustainable development that will contribute to human settlements development, especially in job creation, basic services, access to productive resources and construction of infrastructure.

BASF International Law Adviser, Mr. Andreas Bluethner, who signed on behalf of his company, said that the corporation headquartered in the City of Ludwigshafen in Germany, believed that addressing the needs of the disadvantaged could be a common goal that the United Nations and the private sector share. He said BASF was convinced that an effective and efficient response to the humanitarian challenges of today required the multiple capacities and united strengths of complementary partners, such as the private sector and the UN.

"With regard to the humanitarian and environmental impact of the recent tsunami, BASF would make available resources, technologies and capacities that contribute to the sustainable relief approach that UN-HABITAT is taking. This is to bridge the relief, recovery and reconstruction phases of the disaster and leverage scarce resources into long-term sustainable development for affected cities and communities," Dr. Bluethner said.