BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Today, Friday, is the 10th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed more than 220,000 lives. Thousands of people have gathered at a memorial in Indonesia’s Aceh province, which suffered the heaviest blow in 2004. They prayed for peace for the dead, and expressed appreciation to donor countries participating in rebuilding Aceh.
Remembering those who perished a decade ago, and saying thanks to the world.Then as now, Jusuf Kalla was Indonesia’s vice president when the tsunami hit.
At least 35 countries were involved in the relief work. Jusuf spoke of the unity that came out of the disaster.
"All ambassadors, thank you all again for your participation 10 years ago until now on in Aceh, Aceh cannot go (forward) without all your support, all your participation," he said.
On December 26, 2004, a magnitude-9.4 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s western coast.
Then a series of towering waves swept across 14 countries as far apart as Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Somalia.
Among the victims were thousands of foreign holidaymakers enjoying Christmas...carrying the tragedy into homes around the world.
The vast majority of Indonesia’s 170,000 victims perished in Aceh province, tens of thousands were children.
Mosques held prayers across the province.
"I came here to pray together with other people and to remember those who were taken away from us, ten years ago," said Murtala, business man.
"I hope in the future Aceh will be safe, prosperous, peaceful and developed," said Suarni, housewife.
Aceh’s rebuilding has been fast, as the world poured money and expertise into the relief and reconstruction.
Almost 7 billion US dollars in aid went into new houses, roads, schools and hospitals. But the vice president says more needs to be done.
"It is a time when we learn how to resolve the problem, as the lesson from tsunami taught us how to resolve a complicated problem by uniting as one," Jusuf Kalla said.
The past decade has seen more than 400 million US dollars spent across 28 countries on an early-warning system.
But experts say there are still concerns about the region’s preparedness for another tsunami, as millions in coastal areas are still vulnerable.
(Source: CNTV.com)
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