Meulaboh, Jan 7, SPA -- United Nations SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan toured Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Acehprovince Friday, where he witnessed "miles and miles ofdestroyed shoreline" and saw the U.N. relief effort thatis delivering aid to up to a million homeless survivors. Annan took a ride in a Singaporean helicopter over thedevastated west coast of Sumatra island and was laterscheduled to drive through the provincial capital, BandaAceh. "It's a tragic event. We've seen miles and miles ofdestroyed shoreline," Annan told reporters in Meulaboh."I was shocked by the water destruction." Up to 100,000 people are feared dead on Sumatra island,killed by the Dec. 26 quake and tsunami that flattened vastareas of Aceh, a restive province on the island's northerntip. The total killed in 11 nations is expected to farexceed 150,000, the United Nations says. Annan's visit came the day after he urged donor nations toquickly transform billions of dollars in aid pledges intocash to help bankroll the relief effort. After touching down in Banda Aceh, Annan spoke withIndonesia's Welfare Minister Alwi Shihad about thesituation in the shattered region. World Bank President James Wolfensohn also was travelingwith Annan and separately, Malaysian Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi flew into Banda Aceh to survey thedamage. Wolfensohn said he estimated the World Bank's contributionto the international relief effort could eventually reachUS$1 billion (¤760 million).--SPA1143 Local Time 0843 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/230615
مشاركة :