REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- US Secretary of State John F Kerry admitted he never forgot hearing the news of the tsunami that struck in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 10 years ago.
"The images were gut-wrenching: entire towns razed from Indonesia to Somalia; raging waters sweeping away people’s homes; hundreds of thousands killed and many more separated from their families," Kerry said in a written statement sent to Republika.
"Today of all days, we pause to remember those we lost—from farmers and fishers to travelers from our own lands. I know that there are no words to express such a horrific loss. There’s no way to wipe away the pain of parents who lost a child, or children who lost their parents and were forced to assume adult responsibilities at a tender age," he continued.
Secretary of State also recognized the millions of people who contributed to the recovery effort and continued to work years to rebuild communities. He also reminded the message behind the disaster that "Time to act on climate change is now – before it’s too late to heed the warning."
"On this day of reflection, we mourn with our friends in Asia and Africa who were affected by this terrible disaster. We commit to the hard work still ahead to help the region build safer, more resilient communities. And we pledge our best efforts to leave our children and grandchildren a safer and more sustainable planet. Future generations are counting on us."
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