UN Photo/E. Debebe

A thousand photographs of the devastation caused by the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center do not prepare you for the reality. On 18 September, in expression of condolence as well as recognition that this was an attack that affected the whole world, the UN Secretary-General made a visit to “Ground Zero”. He came by police boat on the Hudson River, where Governor George Pataki and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani met him at water’s edge. He exchanged a long hug of grief and solidarity with the Mayor, and was then led along a walk, deep in dust, until we stood before the site.

I could only feel shock and disbelief, and was speechless, dumbfounded. The tall twin towers existed no more, lost in an inferno of fire and smoke. In their place remained a small mountain, about seven stories high, of debris and dust, with skeletal remains of burned steel girders stark against the sky.

A miasma of acrid smoke hovered over all. Two thousand weary firefighters and other rescuers laboured-one thousand rested at the side, the other hauled out dust, fine as powder, in bucket brigades. Further back, huge cranes, earth movers and giant shovels stood ready, but not in use yet.

The rescuers sought in vain for survivors or remains, but there were almost none - 6,600 souls buried within, dust to dust. I was appalled at the diabolical and meticulous planning that led to such death and devastation. At the site, order not chaos prevailed, as work proceeded. Emotion and exhaustion were apparent on every face. Many watched the small procession by the Mayor, the Governor and the Secretary-General, some reaching out to shake their hands and thanking them for coming.

The Mayor intently described to the Secretary-General the buildings that were lost, people missing or presumed lost, the rescue and recovery efforts, the 70 nationalities represented among the dead.

The United Nations Secretary-General visiting “Ground Zero”. From left to right: Ms. Sorensen, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Secretary-General Kofi Annan and New York State Governor George Pataki. UN Photo/E. Debebe

The many lives lost included executives and trainees, chefs and lawyers, mail clerks and bond traders, and of course the police and firefighters who rushed in to help and were themselves trapped. There were words about the vanishing moment when those inside realized the end was at hand and called their last desperate messages to loved ones. The Secretary-General listened, sympathized, offered United Nations help and brief words about what the Organization was doing, and inquired about predictions of future security. The visit was brief but profoundly moving and memorable.

Thereafter, the Secretary-General stopped at the Family Reception Center, where those seeking missing relatives were interviewed in an attempt to locate or identify their loved ones. The Center also offered interpretation in many languages, grief and spiritual counselling in many faiths, child care, food, access to computers and televisions, a rest area with massage, and a sheltering space where grieving families could find all the information and support possible.

This was followed by a stop at the Emergency Command Center where the City of New York coordinated its emergency actions on transit, energy/electricity, communications, medical services and volunteers. It linked the efforts of City, State and Federal authorities, and assigned duties to rescue units from as far away as Miami (Florida) and Wichita (Kansas). Nearby was a giant rest area, where firefighters and volunteers could sleep, shower and get a meal before returning to their sad labour.

As we share the loss, we draw closer as a United Nations family and try to share our reverence for life and our commitment to peace.

The first Command Center was destroyed by the attack. This one was set up in 24 hours, fully connected by hundreds of computers. Here too order prevailed as experts pooled their knowledge, energy and experience. The Command Center and the Family Reception Center were models of disaster response that could be applied to other emergencies of different types and sizes anywhere in the world. This emergency response is used throughout the United States, reviewed and rehearsed, though of course never imagining a disaster of this magnitude. The chief of the Command Center said that he would gladly share with United Nations staff the plan followed and lessons learned from this disaster.

In the chain of acquaintances that exists in New York, nearly everyone is connected to someone lost on 11 September, and our own sense of ease, confidence and security is deeply shaken. We share the loss; we grieve and wonder; we replay in dreams or in conversation the awful scenes and stories of that hellish day; we marvel at the stories of love and heroism by ordinary people who were simply starting their work day; we weep for the widows and children left behind. We draw closer as a United Nations family and try to share our sense of loss, our reverence for life and our commitment to peace. We take heart through the leadership of the Secretary-General, who sets a standard for us all, and we re-dedicate ourselves to the goals of the United Nations.