New York – This is a very sad day for the United Nations. As you may know, today's (Sunday, 10 March) tragic plane crash in Ethiopia claimed many lives, including several of our own UN colleagues from multiple organisations of the UN system.

We are in the process of informing the families of the UN colleagues who perished and gathering  more information. The relevant Departments are in touch with their counterparts in the Ethiopian Government and with UN offices on the ground, and are making provisions for assisting the families of the victims, providing counseling and mobilizing any other support that may be necessary at this difficult time. Flags at UN offices will fly at half-mast tomorrow (Monday, 11 March) in their honor. 

I know you join me in paying tribute to the commitment and contributions of our fallen colleagues and honour them for their service.

Sincerely,

António Guterres