United Nations: Sixty-one UN personnel are
confirmed dead in quake devastated Haiti and 180 are still
missing, the world body said on Thursday, as it suffered the single
biggest loss of its manpower ever.
"It seems likely that figure (death toll) will go up.
Something we don't wish to face but it is the reality," Martin
Nesirky, UN spokesperson said.
The headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force in Hotel
Christopher had collapsed in the 7.0 quake that hit Haiti.
Not all the bodies have been recovered from the rubble of
the hotel, the spokesperson noted, adding search and rescue
operations were still continuing eight days after the natural
disaster hit the Caribbean nation.
The UN has suffered its single biggest lost in history in
the earthquake. The head of the UN mission in Haiti H?di
Annabi, and his deputy, Luiz Carlo da Costa were killed in the
incident.
In recent developments, Nesirky noted that a
"humanitarian corridor" has been established between Santo
Domingo in the Dominican Republic and Port-au-Prince in Haiti
for relief supplies to reach people in need.
Around 150 flights of aid are landing in the capital's
airport and the first ship carrying supplies has also reached,
according to the UN.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 22, 2010, 00:42