2023-08-22 13:30:01
President J.oe Biden arrived in the town of Lahaina, island of Maui, Hawaii on Monday with a promise: We will do everything we can to help them recover ”expressed in a speech in front of the remains left by the fire.
The democrat went to the island while Efforts by the authorities to identify the victims of the fires that have claimed the lives of at least 114 people and left hundreds missing are continuing.
“I want everyone to know that the country cries with you, that the country is with you”said Biden, who interrupted his summer vacation in Nevada to appear in Hawaii and see first-hand the work of emergency officials at the scene of the accident.
In addition, The president announced that he had appointed a government authority to oversee the long-term recovery of the area, which would be carried out “respecting traditions.”
“It will be rebuilt the way the people of Maui want it rebuilt, not the way we want it to be rebuilt”he claimed.
Biden gave his speech next to a century-old tree that was damaged by the flames and that was one of the main attractions of the citywhich became the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii before the archipelago became part of the United States.
“(The tree) is burned today, but it is still standing. Trees survive for a reason”pointed out the US executive, who highlighted the image as a “powerful symbol” of the reconstruction of the island.
Joe Biden makes remarks while visiting a wildfire-ravaged area in Lahaina, Hawaii.Credit: MANDEL NAN | AFP/Getty Images
In recent days, the leader of the White House has faced criticism from the Republican Party and some media outlets for his lukewarm response to the fire that broke out in Hawaii.which has already become one of the deadliest in the last hundred years in American history.
Biden first spoke about the wildfires on Thursday, August 10, and did not mention the subject further until Tuesday, August 15, when the number of victims increased to 99 people.
In accordance with local officials, however, and in particular the island’s Democratic governor, Josh Green, the president has gone behind the scenes with the response to the emergencyapproving federal funds and sending the Army to assist in body recovery efforts.
Indeed, the Democratic Administration has stressed that Biden approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii on August 10, a few hours after receiving the governor’s request.
However, the inhabitants of the area have shown their disappointment at the silence of the president.
A neighbor, for example, explained that the only help they have received is a payment of $700 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which “does not solve anything”.
Others showed disbelief at the lack of warnings from the authorities during the disaster, since they did not sound the siren warning system for fear of causing residents to run into the flames, thinking it was a tsunami.
Meanwhile, local officials warn that the reconstruction process will be very long.
for now just over 6% of the affected area has been recorded. Some 850 people still remain unaccounted for, so the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days.
With information from EFE
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