The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, expressed the organization’s solidarity and sent condolences today after the bombings occurred this morning in Brussels.
In a letter to the Belgian King Philippe I and Prime Minister Charles Michel, the United Nations senior official expressed her grief and concern over the fatal victims and her sincerest wishes for a speedy recovery for the more than 200 wounded survivors.
The complete text of Alicia Bárcena’s letter appears below.
Letter from Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, to the King and Prime Minister of Belgium:
It is with profound grief and concern that we have learned of the tragic events that occurred in the departures area of the Brussels-Zaventem airport just before eight o’clock this morning, and the subsequent explosion, just an hour and a half later, at the Maelbeekel Metro Station in Brussels.
On behalf of ECLAC and myself, I would like to extend our solidarity and most fraternal condolences to the families of the more than 30 victims for the irreparable loss of lives cut short in this sad episode.
We would also like to express our abiding concern for the more than 200 wounded survivors and hope for their prompt recovery.
Through this letter, we send a warm embrace from Latin American and Caribbean people, united today in the sadness we all share as brothers and sisters of the Belgian people.
As always, my warmest regards and esteem.
Alicia Bárcena
Executive Secretary
ECLAC
