Aceh

07 January 2005

Secretary-Generals Comments to the Press while touring Meulaboh, Aceh, Indonesia

Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General

Q: Could you tell us, how do you feel about the relief effort being carried out here in Meulaboh?

SG: I think it's picking up pace, and every day it's getting better and more and more resources are coming in. And the logistics is also improving. You need to repair the logistics to able to distribute the food. And from what we've seen and heard today, we are encouraged that we're making progress.

Q: What do you think is the most important impact for the people here in the village? What do you think would make the [biggest] accomplishment here?

SG: I think the support coming from the international community [inaudible], so there's no problem with water, there's no problem with food. It's a question of shelter. They're setting up tents to give them shelter and I hope eventually they will be helped to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives and carry on.