COMMEMORATION OF THE 2001 HELICOPTER CRASH

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ On January 14, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Emergency Management Agency and the United Nations in Mongolia are to join efforts to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragic accident of the helicopter carrying officials of the Government of Mongolia, staff of the United Nations, journalists and the crew in Malchin soum of Uvs aimag.
They were on an official humanitarian mission to determine how the world could help the many Mongolians affected by the dzud of 2001.
Among those who participated in the mission, 9 tragically lost their live:
Ms. Sabine Metzner-Strack from Germany, United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team leader and head of the Asia & Pacific Desk Disaster Response Branch in OCHA
Mr. Gerard Le Claire from Jersey, United Kingdom, United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team member and Director of Environmental Services of the States of Jersey Planning & Environmental Department
Mr. Matthew Girvin from the United States of America, Program officer of the UNICEF office in Mongolia
Ms. Batchuluun Bayarmaa from Mongolia, Program Officer of the UNFPA office in Mongolia
Mr. Tsevegmid Batzorig, photographer from Gamma Agency of Mongolia
Mr. Takahiro Kato, reporter for NHK Japan
Mr. Minoru Masaki, cameraman for NHK Japan
Mr. Shagdar Otgonbileg, Member of parliament of Mongolia
Mr. Dashdavaa Otgon, the helicopter technician.
To pay tribute to the deceased, a joint Commemoration ceremony will be organized this day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Initiatives to espouse the good deeds and endeavors of the departed are still on-going today, in particular, by the Bayarmaa Foundation and Matthew Girvin Memorial Scholarship to support the most disadvantaged in Mongolia.
The Government of Mongolia and the UN remain ever grateful to these friends and colleagues for their dedication to the people of Mongolia and their sacrifice.