'GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE' TO BE PLANTED AT GIGIRI FOR VICTIMS OF AUGUST BOMB BLAST
Press Release
OBV/54
'GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE' TO BE PLANTED AT GIGIRI FOR VICTIMS OF AUGUST BOMB BLAST
19980820 NAIROBI, 20 August (UN Information Center) -- Klaus Toepfer, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Acting Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), announced that a garden of trees will be planted at the Gigiri compound in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the bomb blast of 7 August. The assistance of local experts will be enlisted in creating a garden planted with trees indigenous to Kenya.Mr. Toepfer was speaking at the weekly press conference at the United Nations office. "This tragedy will long be remembered, not only by Kenyans but by all of us who live and work among you", Mr. Toepfer said.
In an earlier correspondence sent to the Governments and peoples of Kenya and the United States, Mr. Toepfer had expressed outrage and condemnation of the terrorist act, which resulted in the loss of life of innocent men and women.
"My heart goes out to the many bereaved families who have lost loved ones and to the thousands who have been injured", said Mr. Toepfer. "Those pictures of suffering and pain will not easily be erased from our memories. But as these trees grow, we hope that they will remind us of our common human bond and our need to live in peace and harmony with one another".
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