"Let us remember. Let us honour. And let us continue" (Ban)

United Nations, New York, 30 October 2009 - The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon this morning paid tribute in a UN town hall meeting to the UN staff members who were killed in an attack on a guest house in Afghanistan on Wednesday:

Jossie Esto, was a Philippina volunteer who worked for the UN Development Programme election team;

Lewis Maxwell, was a close protection officer from the United States;

Lawrence Mefful, was a UN security officer from Ghana;

Lydia Wonwene, was a UNDP volunteer elections officer from Liberia;

These dedicated staff members were killed in helping the Afghan people. To these 4 names, we must add one other person, whose identity still needs to be confirmed.

A moment of silence was held in memory of the five dead staff.

The Secretary-General said that the United Nations is urgently reviewing the security environment throughout Afghanistan. He is exploring the feasibility of bringing in additional external security units to guard UN facilities and guest houses. Also, the United Nations will be consolidating its staff now scattered among many different locations and may suggest that personnel not directly engaged in critical duties be re-located over the coming weeks. A senior UN official will travel to Kabul to express sympathy and solidarity with the staff.

This afternoon, the Secretary-General will brief the General Assembly and ask for rapid action on the UN security budget. He noted at the town hall meeting that, so far this year, 27 civilian personnel have lost their lives to violence, more than half of them in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But he stressed his determination to carry out the UNs work, saying, Let us remember. Let us honour. And let us continue.

View the entire event (Real media, 22 minutes):
http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/specialevents/internal/sg091030.rm

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• United Nations
• UN
• Afghanistan
• Kabul
• Townhall meeting
• Staff security
• Emma Mefful

[jamzaja]

I worked with Lawrence in pokhara Nepal for almost one year. We also went together to the local church there. He usually will come and pick me from the home and together we attend the church. R.I.P my friend. Thanks for the moments, experiences, and courage you've shared

[fallavie]

I worked with Lawrence for a year in Afghanistan as UN staff. He was a man who devoted his life to peace and to keeping all of us safe. And again, he died trying to bring others to safety, while he could have made it on his own. If there is any hero in that absurd war in which the invading forces commit atrocities far worse than the ones attributed to the talibans, if there is any hero, Lawrence is his epitome. Wherever you are Lawrence, thank you for your eforts to peace and for your courage.

[fsarfo]

This is so touching.I am not an emotional person but i am moved to tears as I listen to the wife of Pastor lawrence Mellfur.God be with his wife.