SECRETARY-GENERAL LEARNS 'WITH DEEP SORROW' OF DEATH OF FOUR RUSSIAN AIR CREW MEMBERS IN CARGO HELICOPTER CRASH IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

NEW YORK, March 13, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General of the United Nations has learnt with deep sorrow of the death of four Russian air crew members, following the crash of a United Nations-contracted cargo helicopter on 9 March, 20 kilometres west of Bukavu, South Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Secretary-General offers his sincerest condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of the victims, and to the Government of the Russian Federation.

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) immediately launched a search and rescue operation. Due to severe weather conditions, the Mission could not access the crash site until 12 March. MONUSCO has launched an immediate investigation into the cause of the crash.