REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDA ACEH -- Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla believes that Aceh has changed significantly in the last 10 years, following the deadly tsunami in 2004.
"Many things have changed, including the spirit of people, facilities, and buildings. The most noteworthy thing is that the public is in high spirits," Kalla told the press here on Thursday (25/12).
The vice president arrived in Banda Aceh to attend the 10th commemoration of the gigantic tsunami that devastated Aceh and Nias Island (North Sumatra province) on December 26, 2004.
The event is being held from December 25 to 28, with highlights such as a photo exhibition, a Tsunami 10K marathon, and a mass prayer.
Representatives from 34 countries are expected to attend the event, including the prime ministers of Singapore and Malaysia and a number of foreign ambassadors.
The deadly tsunami was triggered by a powerful earthquake measuring 9.3 on the Richter Scale that caused faults as long as 1,200 kilometers from Aceh to Andaman Islands, India.
According to data from the Aceh provincial administration, the tsunami killed 126,741 people, rendered 93,285 people missing, 500,000 homeless, and nearly 750,000 people unemployed.
The 10th Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster Commemoration themed "Let's Build a Better Aceh with Heart" focuses on reflection, appreciation, and awakening, Muhammad Reza Pahlevi, the head of the Aceh provincial tourism and cultural office, remarked recently.
"So there will be no misery and no tears. We will showcase the revival of the Aceh community and express appreciation towards the world for helping Aceh," he stated.
The tsunami, which is the most devastating one in living memory, affected 18 countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, killed more than 250 thousand people in a single day, and left more than 1.7 million people homeless.
Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Tanzania were among the 18 countries affected by the tsunami.
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