Bill Clinton & UN Remember 101/Haiti

Independent Films, Social Responsibility Movies, Web Series

Bill Clinton and many attend Memorial Ceremony on behalf of more than 100 UN mandated personnel from around the world who perished during the Haiti earthquake. While the UN's loss and that of contributing countries (particularly Brazil) cannot be compared to that of Haiti and its people, it was the single greatest loss of life experienced by the United Nations.

Recalling at UN HQ in NY during those tragic days, I saw yellow ribbons and photos of friends lost all around the UN building, from cubicles to the staff cafeteria. The conversations were hushed and sad in tone in a place normally exuding confidence and enthusiasm. Many also felt that the UN's own loss had been almost overlooked in the sheer numbers of Haiti. There was no bitterness though, and the UN Mission to Haiti gradually regrouped, by Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey

Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

Former United States President Bill Clinton, High representative of United Nations (UN) Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Michaelle Jean and UN officials attend a memorial ceremony held later today (12 January) at the UN mission headquarters in Port au prince.

Head of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) Edmond Mulet said that people were gathered to celebrate “the memory of our colleagues, families and friends and the 200,000 Haitian people whose lives were taken in just a few seconds.”

With a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale, the earthquake killed over 200,000 people, injured more than 300,000 and displaced 2.3 million people, nearly one quarter of the country’s population. It levelled Haiti’s capital, delivered a severe blow to the economy and infrastructure, and impeded nation-building efforts in the country.

In addition, 102 UN staff members perished, constituting the highest loss of life from a single event in United Nations history.

For US President and UN Special Envoy for Haiti Bill Clinton said that the lives of those who had perished during the earthquake “must be honored in all the ways that we can.”

At a parallel event in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to UN staff who perished in the disaster as well as reaffirmed the UN system's commitment to assisting the people of Haiti to rebuild their country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson said that Ban noted that the UN and international response to a disaster of unparalleled magnitude was one of the largest ever mounted and that these efforts must be redoubled and renewed.

Tags

• haiti
• UN dead
• bill clinton

Directors:

• Muhamed Sacirbey UNTV

Producers:

• Susan Sacirbey