18 April 2010 - With the flags of the United Nations and the African Union both at half-mast today, UNAMID joined the international community in mourning late Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and the 94 other passengers and crew who died in an airplane crash on 10 April.

President Kaczynski had long been a supporter of numerous humanitarian causes and “had served his country and people with distinction and conviction, and was deservedly respected internationally,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “That he died en route to an event marking a new level of reconciliation between Poland and Russia is particularly poignant.”

UNAMID’s leadership today expressed their sincere condolences to the people and Government of Poland and to the families of those who died.

To date, UNAMID counts approximately 25,000 peacekeepers from over 50 countries, including Poland.