“Deeply saddened”: MEA reacts to death of former Indian Army officer working with UN in Gaza
| 2024-05-15
Representative image.
Indian missions are extending all assistance in the repatriation of his mortal remains to India, says MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condoled the death of a former Indian Army officer, Colonel (Retired) Waibhav Anil Kale, in Gaza on Monday (May 14, 2024).
Col (Retd) Kale, who was working as a Security Coordination Officer with the United Nations in Gaza, was travelling in a UN vehicle which was hit while on its way to a hospital in Rafah. The UN has called for a “full investigation into the attack”.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd.), Security Coordination Officer in the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) in Gaza on 13 May 2024. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and dear ones,” the MEA said in a statement.
India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York and the Missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah are extending all assistance in the repatriation of mortal remains to India. They continue to be in touch with relevant authorities regarding the investigation into the incident, the MEA added.
India’s Permanent Mission to the UN has also expressed its condolences to the family of the former Indian Army officer. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Col Waibhav Kale, working for the UN Department of Safety and Security in Gaza. Our deepest condolences are with the family during this difficult time,” the mission said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Condemning the attack, the United Nations has called for a full investigation.
A statement issued by Farhan Haq, Spokesperson to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said the Secretary-General was “deeply saddened” to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning.
“The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation. He sends his condolences to the family of the fallen staff member.
With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll – not only on civilians, but also on humanitarian workers – the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages,” the statement added.
According to reports, Kale was commissioned into the Indian Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment; he had taken retirement two years ago to join the UN.
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