Ethiopia Air Crash & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (11 March 2019)

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Daily Press Briefing:
- Ethiopia Air Crash
- SG/Malawi
- Malawi/Mozambique
- Ebola
- SG/CSW
- Syria
- Security Council
- Myanmar, Influenza
- Honour Roll
ETHIOPIA AIR CRASH
As you will have all seen, the flags at the UN are flying at half-mast today in remembrance of the colleagues we lost yesterday in the air crash in Ethiopia.  I know that the numbers of fatalities have been fluctuating and we have gone through different numbers -- as of five minutes ago, we have confirmations that 21 UN personnel, from different parts of the system, died in the crash.
Before speaking to the Commission on the Status of Women, the Secretary-General said that this is a sad day for our organization and for many around the world. He said the United Nations is united in grief, and he extends his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all the victims, to the Government and people of Ethiopia, and all those affected by the disaster.
He said our fallen colleagues were women and men —junior professionals and seasoned officials — hailing from all corners of the globe and with a wide array of expertise.  They all had one thing in common: a spirit to serve the people of the world and to make it a better place for all.  It is the same spirit that calls us to the UN every day, he said.
And as you know many of these people on the plane were heading to Nairobi to attend the UN Environment Assembly. And the fourth UN Environment Assembly began this morning. The Assembly is addressing the theme, “Innovative Solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption & production.” And after I’m finished here we will have by phone the Head of the UN Environment [Programme’s] New York Office, Satya S. Tripathi, who is in Nairobi and will speak to you more about the Assembly.
And a number of various UN agencies who lost staff or their executive heads have sent out condolences notes and statements. And some of the agencies are also releasing the names of the victims as next-of-kin are notified.

SG/MALAWI
The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the loss of life and significant damage to people’s homes and livelihoods caused by heavy rains and flooding in Malawi.
The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Malawi.
The United Nations expresses its solidarity with the Malawi authorities and stands ready to support them as they respond to the humanitarian needs resulting from the heavy rains and flooding.

MALAWI/MOZAMBIQUE
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that since 8 March, a total of 30 deaths, 377 injuries had been recorded.
Our humanitarian colleagues say more than 93,000 households – that’s close to half a million people – have been impacted – including 6,000 households have been displaced.
And the same storm is also hitting Mozambique where our humanitarian team is reporting at least 10 deaths and the displacement of some 10,500 people following heavy rains due to a tropical cyclone.
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