Press statement

UNAIDS mourns loss of life in Nigeria bombing


Geneva, 21 September 2011—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) mourns the tragic loss of life during a recent bomb attack on UN House in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja. According to information released by the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, 23 people, including 11 UN personnel, died in this targeted attack by a suicide bomber on 26 August, and 124 people were injured.

“The UNAIDS family is shocked and saddened by this unspeakable act of violence,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “On behalf of UNAIDS, I extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of all who were killed and injured.”

UNAIDS was one of five United Nations organizations to lose staff members in the Abuja attack. Thirty-nine year-old Elisha Enaburkhan, who had worked as a driver for UNAIDS since 2007, was killed when the explosion hit the UNAIDS office in Abuja. A second UNAIDS staff member was injured in the attack and is currently receiving treatment in South Africa.

Speaking of his colleague and friend, the UNAIDS Country Coordinator in Nigeria, Kwame Ampomah, said: “Elisha was a highly committed staff member. Even though he lived about 45 kilometers from town, he was always the first person to get to the office and often the last to leave. Elisha was an attentive, courteous and very kind man. He was always smiling and laughing—we will miss Elisha’s smile.”


Contact

UNAIDS Geneva
Saira Stewart
tel. +41 79 467 2013
stewarts@unaids.org

Press centre

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