Ban says 16 peacekeepers confirmed dead in Haiti quake

“Our hearts and minds today are with the people of Haiti,” Ban said.

“The United Nations counts among the victims. Peacekeepers and civilian staff from many member states are in Haiti and remain unaccounted for,” he added.

It has also been confirmed that 56 personnel have been injured,seven medically evacuated and 150 are still unaccounted for following the 7.0 temblor.

Meanwhile peacekeepers from Brazil and India are carrying out rescue activities and ensuring security in the quake devastated country.

A rescue team from China has already arrived,and teams from US and Dominican Republic are expected to land shortly,officials said. Head of UN peacekeeping Alain Le Roy,called it the “most tragic day for UN peacekeeping,” as a large number of persons unaccounted for could actually be dead since they have been buried under rubble for several hours.

Many countries are sending equipment,doctors,dogs and personnel to help in rescue and relief operations. Senior UN officials noted that the number of dead is likely to go up as hundreds are still trapped in the rubble of the collapsed buildings.

“The emotions are very high. It is a horrible tragedy for UN peacekeeping,” Le Roy told journalists here,adding that it is “likely” thousands of Haitians could be dead.

Ban’s Special Representative in Haiti Hedi Annabi,and his deputy,Luiz Carlos da Costa,were also in the UN headquarters when it collapsed and are still missing. Haiti President Rene Preval,earlier said that Annabi had died but Ban told journalists that he had not yet spoken to Preval and the UN could not confirm this.

The National Palace,the Cathedral,the Ministry of Justice and other important government offices have been destroyed and electricity and water are in short supply,according to the UN.

“An unknown number tens if not hundreds of thousands have suffered varying degrees of destruction to their homes,” said Vincenzo Pugliese,the UN spokesperson in Haiti.

“Haitians,fearful of houses collapsing on them or of a second earthquake,slept in the streets of Port-au-Prince last night,” he said. Officials said that the need of the hour was search and rescue teams,medical assistance and food rations.

The UN World Food Program is airlifting an additional 86 metric tons of food from its emergency hub in El Salvador including energy biscuits to sustain thousands of people over seven days. The UN has already released USD 10 million dollars in emergency aid.