INTERPOL steps in 'Yolanda' operations

MANILA, Philippines - Agents of the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) arrived to help identify and recover thousands of fatalities as well as those still missing left by super-typhoon (Yolanda).

Interpol Director of Operational Support Michael O'Connell said the agency deployed its specialists at the request of Philippine government.

"Clearly, one of the main priorities for the Philippine authorities is to find and rescue as many living victims as possible and for the humanitarian relief operations to continue," O'Connell said in a statement Tuesday.

"What is also important is the swift and accurate identification of the thousands of victims, which is where international support and coordination is essential and where INTERPOL can unite the global community in these efforts," O'Connell added.

O'Connell said that INTERPOL will help set up needed temporary mortuary sites equipped with refrigerated containers and mobile forensic laboratories.

The team includes experts from the Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France, disaster victim identification and DNA specialists from Canada, South Africa and the International Commission on Missing Persons.

Once in Manila, INTERPOL is set to meet with Philippine officials to develop a structured network in order to avoid duplication of victim identification efforts.