The UN faces a heavy casualty toll in the Haiti earthquake. So far at least 16 staff are dead and 1 hundred and 50 unaccounted for, believed trapped in collapsed buildings.

Flags are flying at half mast at the UN headquarters in New York, honoring those killed in the disaster.

Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, said, "I'd like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the victims of yesterday's catastrophic earthquake."

And UN staff working in Haiti are also among the casualties.

John Holmes, UN Humantiarian Chief, said, "The UN has been part of the victims of this earthquake. The main UN Stabilization Mission headquarters in the hotel Christopher was collapsed."

(CCTV January 14, 2010)