Ban Ki-moon pledges to spare no effort to ensure safety of UN staff

As information continues to emerge about the toll from Tuesday’s deadly bombings in Algiers, which killed a number of United Nations staff members, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today assured the world body’s staff that he will spare no effort to ensure their safety.

“Let me assure all UN staff around the world: I will spare no effort in ensuring we provide adequate security for you, wherever you serve,” Mr. Ban said in his second letter to UN staff since the blasts rocked the Algerian capital.

“We will look at all possible ways, with all parts of the system, and with Member States, to ensure that this is done,” he added.

At least eleven UN staff members are among the dozens killed in the attacks, and several more are injured and missing. Rescue workers helped to remove several UN staff alive from the rubble, and they are now receiving medical treatment.

Mr. Ban has dispatched a team of his top aides to Algiers to visit the injured and the families of those national staff who were lost, and also to report back to him on the overall situation.