UN Environment Programme colleagues in Nairobi, Kenya, gathered in solidarity to pay tribute to fellow UN colleagues who perished in the ill-fated Ethiopian airline crash on 10 March 2019.
“We committed that day, as we commit every day, to honour their legacy and their life’s work with our work and dedication,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.
“Their hope was to return humanity and live in harmony with nature in a pollution-free world and climate stable world.”
Ms. Andersen recognized the presence of family members who were present during the commemoration ceremony at the UN complex in Nairobi.
One hundred and fifty-seven souls were lost on that day. The UN lost 21 colleagues working across 11 UN system organizations.
These included delegates, youth delegates, interpreters, UNEP colleagues, and UN staff members, many of whom were on their way to attend UN Environment Assembly 4 in Nairobi.
David Da Silva, Acting High Commissioner, High Commission of Canada to Kenya, expressed that a number of youth delegates from Canada, who attended the just completed UN Environment Assembly 5.2, have been encouraged by their fellow delegates who died in the plane crash.
He encouraged attendees at the commemoration to honour our fallen colleagues by standing up and fighting for what they, too, had worked so hard to do.
Petronella Cox, Staff Interpreter, Chief of the English Unit at UNON, spoke about the interpreters and other colleagues who perished in the crash.
Zainab Hawa Bangura, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi; Luisa Fragoso, Ambassador of Portugal to Kenya and Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UNEP; and Rose Makena Muchiri, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Kenya to UNON and UNEP; were also present.
Each speaker urged all of those present to reflect on their lives, honour the service of these fallen colleagues, and be inspired by their extraordinary example.
