The men and women of the United Nations work on the global frontlines, putting their lives at risk to help address the world's most pressing problems. The recent tragedy in Haiti highlights how many peacekeepers pay an enormous price in the name of peace. The loss of life likely will be the greatest on a single day for a peacekeeping mission in UN history.
The devastating earthquake in Haiti collapsed the UN Stabilization Mission headquarters, trapping more than 100 people in the rubble and killing UN peacekeepers from around the world, including Hedi Annabi, Head of the mission.
The Haiti peacekeeping mission, composed of over 9,000 international forces, has been in place since the mid-1990s to help stabilize the country. UN peacekeepers there now face a difficult transition as they aid in the country's search, rescue, and recovery efforts, while enduring major personal losses of friends and colleagues.
Please honor these brave peacekeepers, and send them a message of sympathy in the wake of this tragedy. Your support will mean the world to them.
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"No one can ever doubt again what the relevance of the UN is in the 21st century or the devotion of its employees to the common cause of humanity. We owe it to them to respond in the right way."
– former President Bill Clinton, the UN special envoy to Haiti
Dear UN Peacekeepers,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. We offer condolences to you and to the families of the Haitians, UN peacekeepers and other international staff who have suffered tremendous personal losses.
We are deeply saddened by reports that UN staff are missing following the collapse of the UN headquarters building in Port-au-Prince. The men and women of the United Nations work on the global frontlines, putting their lives at risk to help address the world's most pressing problems. Many of you have paid an enormous price in this recent crisis.
We send our deepest condolences to you and your loved ones.
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