Christchurch destruction on scale with Haiti - Helen Clark
The destruction in Christchurch is the equivalent of what was seen in Haiti following the earthquake there last year, former Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
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The destruction in Christchurch is the equivalent of what was seen in Haiti following the earthquake there last year, former Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
Miss Clark, who heads the United Nations development programme, arrived in Christchurch today and was taken to some of the worst-hit areas of the city centre.
"My heart goes out to everybody," Miss Clark told media this afternoon.
"So many people no longer with us, grieving families, people with terrible injuries, people whose livelihoods are destroyed, homes destroyed, it's a devastating situation."
The destruction she had seen was as bad as the other disasters she had visited in her role with the UN, she said.
"What I've seen in the centre of Christchurch is as bad as what I saw in Haiti at the beginning of last year, no question.
"It's as bad as anything you would see."
UN assistance for the city appeared unlikely, with Miss Clark saying the country would get through the disaster.
"I think in the case of New Zealand, a developed country with a very strong Civil Defence infrastructure, and with the support that's come in from round the world, New Zealand will cope," she said.
"I've just come from Pakistan where the recovery, in a sense, is only just beginning from devastating floods so that's where you'd expect the UN to be.
Miss Clark was visiting as a private citizen rather than in an official capacity.
"I've been to this city so many times, I've been in some of the buildings badly affected, obviously over many, many years, and I know a lot of people here.
"So just to come down and show solidarity with people."
Amelia Romanos of NZPA
Sun, 27 Feb 2011
Sun, 27 Feb 2011
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Christchurch destruction on scale with Haiti - Helen Clark
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