Kinshasa, 12 January 2011 - United Nations Stabilization Mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) in unity with the entire United Nations global family, paid tribute to the Haiti disaster victims by observing 47 second-silence to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake that hit Haiti last year.

At 1653 hours, the time when the earthquake had hit, Kinshasa MONUSCO staff assembled at four venues to honour the memory of the thousands of Haitian victims including 102 UN colleagues who lost their lives when MINUSTAH (UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti) and other UN offices' buildings collapsed. In a central commemoration ceremony at Mission's headquarters in Kinshasa, the acting Special Representative of the Secretary General, Leila Zerrogui, and a number of civil and military staff joined the silence. Similar ceremonies were also organized by UN community throughout DRC, notably at Bunia, Goma, Dungu, Mbuji Mayi, Mbandaka, Kananga, Matadi, Lubumbashi and Kamina.

It may also be apt to mention that six former staff members of MONUSCO including two Congolese national were also among the victims who lost their lives in that earthquake.

Fathya WABERI / MONUSCO