"No words can do justice to the level of destruction we've seen in this entire community. . . . This is a devastation that is unlike anything I've seen at this kind of scale." So said Secretary of State John Kerry, as reported in the New York Times (December 19, 2013).
This statement and this whole one-third-page article are notable for at least two reasons. First, the Times is continuing its coverage of Haiyan six weeks after the typhoon's record-breaking winds slammed into East Samar. And secondly the top U.S. diplomat personally came to see what had happened for himself. He was clearly shocked.
The article, by Keith Bradsher, who has been reporting from Tacloban and surrouonding areas since Haiyan occurred, emphasized the continuing needs. Kerry promised an additional $24.6 million immediately. This amount is on top of the $62 million already supplied by Washington. Bradsher also quotes President Aquino saying that $13 billion will eventually be needed and that the damage will not be fully repaired before 2017.
On a lighter note, Bradsher quotes some of the older residents who commented on seeing the large number of American soldiers and airplanes coming to their aid. They said it reminded them of the return of the Americans under MacArthur in 1944 when they landed on the beaches near by to oust the Japanese.
In closing Bradsher talks with some of the locals who are starting to rebuild on the same sites where their dwellings were completely demolished by the typhoon. Unfortunately, as the ocean level continues to rise, future typhoons, even less vehement, would cause even greater loss.
Not to end on a down note, kudos to Mr. Kerry for showing up in person to lend his support, and also to the American soldiers whose assistance reminded the elders of the 1944 return of the Americans to help liberate the Philippines.
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