SEARCH FOR PASSENGERS ON DOWNED AID PLANE IN EASTERN DR CONGO CONTINUES - UN

SEARCH FOR PASSENGERS ON DOWNED AID PLANE IN EASTERN DR CONGO CONTINUES – UN New York, Sep 3 2008 4:10PM Two days after a plane carrying humanitarian supplies with 17 people on board – including seven United Nations staff – crashed in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the search for passengers continued today.

"However, given that aerial reconnaissance found that the plane suffered an extremely violent impact, the likelihood of survivors is low," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

The plane, operated by United States-based Air Serv which provides air transport for the international humanitarian community, had been en route from Kisangani to Bukavu when it crashed into a mountain about 15 kilometres northeast of Bukavu airport while beginning its landing approach in bad weather.

Yesterday, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said the passengers included five <"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2008/september/undp-administrators-message-on-the-plane-crash-in-the-drc.en">UNDP staff members and two from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA).

Recovery teams include military contingents from the UN mission in the country known as <"http://www.monuc.org/Home.aspx?lang=en">MONUC, Congolese Civil Aviation authorities, Air Serv and South African special rescue teams, all of whom have combined their ground and air recovery efforts.

The site of the crash, in extremely difficult terrain, is 10,000 feet above sea level, and rescue efforts are taking place in the midst of the rainy season.

Ms. Montas said that operations to reach and work on the site could last several more days. "Earlier today, two MONUC helicopters carrying 25 MONUC military and South African special rescue teams left for the site," she added.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his deep sadness at the news of the crash, stating yesterday that his thoughts are with the families and colleagues of those UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) aid workers, Congolese officials and crew who were on board the aircraft.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11771.doc.htm">statement, Mr. Ban expressed his gratitude to all UN staff and international aid workers in the DRC "who continue to work tirelessly under difficult conditions to support the Congolese people in their efforts to consolidate peace in their country."

Also yesterday, UNDP Administrator Kemal Derviº issued a statement voicing his deep sadness at learning of the plane crash.

"Words fail one when such terrible events strike," he said. "The colleagues we lost and those that disappeared with them will always remain in our hearts."
2008-09-03 00:00:00.000

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