At least 19 United Nations staff members were among the 32 Kenyan nationals who died when Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed near Bishoftu on March 10, 2019, according to initial investigations.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, which had departed from Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport, crashed six minutes after takeoff, killing all 157 people on board. The aircraft was en route to Nairobi, where a UN-related conference was scheduled to begin.
"Early indications show 19 UN-affiliated personnel among the deceased," said Antonio Vitorino, head of the International Organization for Migration.
The World Food Programme confirmed seven of its staff members died in the tragedy, including Anne Feigl, a program officer based in Sudan. WFP Director David Beasley expressed deep sorrow, stating:
"We mourn our WFP colleagues who lost their lives while serving humanity, dedicating their careers to improving global well-being and supporting families worldwide."
Among the 35 nationalities represented among the victims, Kenya had the highest number of casualties. The crash occurred in a remote area of Ethiopia, with rescue efforts hampered by challenging terrain. UN Secretary-General António Guterres extended condolences to affected families and urged Ethiopian authorities to cooperate with international investigations.
