Haiti Earthquake: Ban Ki-moon visits the ruins of the UN's mission Headquarters

United Nations, New York, 17 January 2010: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the devastating ruins of the United Nations mission headquarters (MINUSTAH) in Port au Prince today, where 14 of his staff had been killed, including the missions head Hedi Annabi -- and 628 remain missing.

The five-story building, also known as the Christopher Hotel, collapsed last Tuesday (12 Jan) following a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

Ban was accompanied by the new head of the mission Edmond Mulet, who briefed him on the operation being carried out by the rescue team.

After receiving a UN flag from a Haitian staff member, Ban expressed his sadness, saying he would carry it in memory of the colleagues, who had given their lives for peace, for the cause of peace.

As rescue teams worked at the site trying to dig out staff trapped under the rubble, Ban told reporters that the organization would continue to stand behind the Haitian people, adding that this was a moment of sadness but also a moment of need. This is a moment of the United Nations. We really need to work."