India, April 16 -- The UN is set to launch a funding appeal to support Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where ongoing volcanic "explosions" continue to disrupt life in the Caribbean island nation and nearby countries, a top official in the region said on Wednesday.

Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Caribbean, briefed journalists on response to the growing humanitarian crisis sparked after long-dormant La Soufriere volcano erupted last week, displacing some 20,000 people, or roughly one-fifth of the population. Around 6,000 are considered vulnerable.

"We are about to initiate the UN funding appeal and response plan to support the humanitarian response, but also the early recovery for the next six months", he s...