WASHINGTON (March 11, 2019)—On Sunday, March 10, a plane crashed while taking off on its way from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Nairobi, Kenya. At least 21 of the passengers worked for the United Nations and many were traveling to Nairobi for the UN Environment Assembly.

Following is a message from Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute:

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Ethiopia. Many of us personally knew passengers on board, which included colleagues and friends from the UN, government and civil society organizations. These were heroes who had committed their lives to protecting the environment and providing humanitarian assistance to those in need. We join our colleagues at the UN Environment Assembly and around the world in mourning and honoring their memory. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of all of those who lost their lives.”