Annan Wonders Where Are the People?

[Khephra]

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan toured Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Aceh province on Friday, flying by helicopter to the razed town of Meulaboh, beyond which is a black hole of devastation.

"I must admit I have never seen such utter destruction, mile after mile. You wonder, where are the people?," said Annan on his return to the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.

Meulaboh on the west coast of the island of Sumatra is just 150 km (93 miles) from the epicenter of the undersea earthquake that triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean, killing more the 153,000 people from Asia to Africa.

The United Nations estimated that one-third of Meulaboh's 120,000 people were killed when the giant waves ripped through the town on Dec. 26.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7265779

[berni_mccoy]

1. What?

"I must admit I have never seen such utter destruction, mile after mile. You wonder, where are the people?," said Annan

Maybe Kofi should check out Fallujah.

[Bridget Burke]

3. He's already spoken out about Iraq.

And was against the invasion. Don't blame him.

Why didn't Colin & Brother Jeb go to Fallujah?

[uppityperson]

2. uhh, dead?

and moved out?

[donheld]

4. I'm sure Kofi knows that

I think Mr Annan is just saying in other words the people are washed out to sea, dead. This is just very hard for people to come to terms with. Entire villages mile after mile vanished. Not small villages, the numbers are staggering.

[uppityperson]

6. Sorry, knew it was a rhetorical question, gave a snide answer.

sorry. that was rude of me. I'm heartbroken by the tsunami and war dead. sorry.

[Redstone]

5. Here's some perspective...

U.S. cities of about 150,000 population (2000 census):

Chattanooga city TN 155,554

Ponce zona urbana Puerto Rico 155,038

Fort Lauderdale city FL 152,397

Springfield city MA 152,082

Springfield city MO 151,580

Santa Clarita city CA 151,088

Salinas city CA 151,060

Tallahassee city FL 150,624

Rockford city IL 150,115

Pomona city CA 149,473

Paterson city NJ 149,222

Overland Park city KS 149,080

Santa Rosa city CA 147,595

Syracuse city NY 147,306

Kansas City city KS 146,866

Sure would seem empty one of them had its entire population wiped out.

Redstone

[Tweed]

7. 1/3 of an entire city

Could you imagine?

[gardenista]

8. kick for Khephra

[gardenista]

9. .

[jus_the_facts]

10. kick for Khephra

kick for Khephra

[Rhiannon12866]

11. This is very scary, but he must know that most of them are dead.

Kick for Khephra!:kick:

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. Kick for Khephra.

n/t

[Scout]

13. kick

[Rhiannon12866]

14. I look back at these stories and realize how very important and relevant

they are. What will we do without Khephra to find and post them for us? Despite our best efforts, including mine, since I was forever on the lookout for the next LBN article, Khephra was LBN. We will miss you and your vigilance, Khephra!;(

Kick for Khephra!:kick: