Mr. Lionel Amar, 1959-2010
UN Police (France)
Warrant Officer in Chief (Adjudant chef) Lionel Amar, a national of France, worked with the UN Police for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) since mid-November 2009.
Originally from Perpignan, he had been seconded from his duties in the French gendarmerie to MINUSTAH. Lionel was an athlete who had set up the sports division at the Ecole de gendarmerie (police academy) in Montargis. He was also awarded the silver medal for youth and sports for his work. In 2002, he became an instructor in professional intervention and operational crossing and a trainer in weapons and tactics.
MINUSTAH was not his first mission abroad as he had already volunteered, from February to December 2003, for a 24-hour protection mission in the Office of the High Representative in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzégovina.
Lionel was to stay in MINUSTAH for six months, together with 24 other gendarmes and 38 policemen, to train and support local police forces. “He was in his apartment when the earthquake struck, and the whole neighborhood crumbled,” according to his chief in Perpignan.
The French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux expressed his sadness and emotion after the confirmation of his
death, adding that 100 gendarmes had been mobilized and sent to Haiti for search and rescue operations.
“Our whole police forces are mourning,” underlined the Minister, adding “my first thoughts go to his family and
his loved ones to whom I convey all my support and compassion in these particularly painful circumstances.”
Lionel was posthumously awarded the title of “Chevalier de l’ordre national du mérite.”
His body was taken back to France on 26 January. He was buried the following day.
Lionel is survived his wife Brigitte and their two children Laureline and Valérian.