Honouring Fallen UNICEF Staff, Secretary-General Says Loss ‘Only Strengthens’ His Resolve to Do More for People of Somalia

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, as delivered by Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, at the Town Halls with United Nations families in Somalia and Kenya, in Mogadishu and Nairobi, on 29 and 30 April, respectively:

I send these greetings to you with a heavy heart, after the terrible attack that hit the United Nations family in Somalia in Garowe on 20 April.

In Payenda Gul Abed, Brenda Kyeyune, Woki Munyui and Stephen Oduor, we have lost precious and dedicated colleagues.  You knew these individuals as friends and co-workers, with their own passions and stories, with their daily frustrations and satisfactions.

They personified our common aspirations for the children of Somalia:  to bring hope to a generation whose lives have been blighted by conflict and poverty; to stop a polio epidemic in its tracks; [and] to bring education and opportunity to those who would otherwise be left behind.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to their loved ones, and those of the two Somali guards who also died in the attack; and to you, their UN family in Somalia.

I convey my sincere sympathies also to those who were injured, and wish them a swift recovery.  On behalf of the UN family, I thank those colleagues who facilitated their evacuation, provided medical attention, made arrangements to honour the dead, and all the others who contributed to the response to this tragedy.

Despite this tragedy, I know that there is collective determination to continue our efforts to build peace and stability in Somalia.  That owes much to your daily commitment, courage and integrity.  You represent the best of the United Nations.

As you carry forward this work, your safety and security are critical to us.  I am grateful to Special Representative Kay, our United Nations Department for Safety and Security colleagues, and Security Management Team in Somalia for the measures they are putting in place to maximize your safety.  I pledge to you that they will have my full support.

The loss of our precious colleagues only strengthens my personal resolve to do all that we can through the United Nations to support the people of Somalia in their struggle for peace — and to prevent acts of terror and combat the hatred and extremism that inspires them.

Much work still lies ahead.  I pledge that I will do everything in my power to support your efforts and to honor the memory of our colleagues.  Thank you for your courageous and dedicated service.