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UN chief honors fallen staff members worldwide

Xinhua, January 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Thursday honored fallen UN staff members over the past year across the world, saying that direct attacks on UN personnel are becoming more frequent.

The secretary-general, speaking at a memorial service for fallen UN staff members held here in the day, said he is appalled by the number of humanitarian workers and peacekeepers who were deliberately targeted in the past year, while trying to help people in crisis.

Between October 2013 and November 2014, a total of 100 UN personnel died in the line of duty, including in Afghanistan, Somalia and Sierra Leone. And a UN Volunteer from Sudan who was treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone succumbed to the disease himself.

"Some were targeted deliberately; others were killed while protecting civilians; still others perished in accidents or natural disasters," the secretary-general said. "All died while performing their duties in difficult and dangerous circumstances."

Meanwhile, Ban paid tribute to the 102 staff members who had died in the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti five years ago this month.

"We are also here to pay tribute to the 102 colleagues from the United Nations family who died in the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti five years ago this month," he said. "The terrible memories of that day are still fresh in all our minds, and in the minds of Haiti's people."

"The gaps left by our fallen staff members can never be filled, " he said.

More than 200,000 people were killed in the powerful earthquake that shook Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, and 300,000 others were also injured.

During a visit to Haiti last July, Ban laid a wreath in memory of UN staff members.

"Today, we remember all those who have died and we honor them for their service," he said. "We grieve with their families and friends and we pay tribute to their courage and sacrifice." Endite