Leader of the UN peace mission in Haiti, Hedi Annabi, was killed in a powerful earthquake (7 Richter scale) which ravage the area which occurred on Tuesday January 12, 2010. Haitian President René Préval, Wednesday, said, "Annabi died. We extend our sympathy and condolences to all the international community," said Preval in Port-au-Prince.However, UN staff in locations not yet sure Annabi (65 years), from Tunisia, had been killed. The UN mission's spokesman, Nicholas Birnback, said, "We had heard that the President Preval that Annabi has been confirmed to have died. We have been communicating with the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti and the UN permanent mission in the country. So far, we have not been able to provide confirmation of the news (from Preval) this, "said Birnback.
Head of UN peacekeeping missions, Alain Le Roy, said Annabi was in the building when the earthquake happened, and he believed among those who are still trapped in the ruins of the MINUSTAH headquarters. Headquarters United Nations peacekeeping missions were located in the former Christopher Hotel in Port-au-Prince. There administrative staff work. 9000 while most of MINUSTAH troops and police dispersed in many locations.
The UN on Wednesday, said at least 16 members of the peace mission were killed in the earthquake and that number will continue to grow. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, was among 11 people killed were residents of Brazil, three Jordan, an Argentine, and a citizen of Chad.
Susana Malcorra, senior UN peacekeeping mission, previously stated, the mission members of the 56 people wounded. Alain Le Roy said the number of deaths of UN staff are expected to increase sharply as rescue workers searched the ruins of the five-story headquarters and other buildings. Le Roy and Malcorra said, as many as 150 UN staff are still missing. Hedi Annabi, and his deputy are still counted as members of the missing.
Still not clear how many victims were killed in the most powerful earthquake that struck Haiti in the last 200 years. Head of humanity before the UN John Holmes said, 3 to 3.5 million people live in areas affected by the earthquake. "Initial reports estimate the number of victims is very high".
Terrible earthquake like this before, they have occurred in West Sumatra, Indonesia, which claimed thousands of people who died buried ruins of buildings and landslides. Earth is currently experiencing changes in the structure, so let's level of vigilance because of the earthquake can happen anytime and anywhere without us knowing it.
Labels: Natural Disasters
