The UN System created the office of the UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC) within the UN Development Group to help ensure that the UN system responds to national, regional and global challenges in relation to influenza. The primary purpose of this office is to ensure cooperation and coordination between the UN and support for the range of different initiatives underway now to address the avian flu epidemic and the threat of a human pandemic. Dr. David Nabarro has been appointed as UN System Influenza Coordinator.