UNICEF says humanitarian needs at crash site minimal

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, said on Friday it did not foresee "any humanitarian needs arising" from the crash of a Sudanese cargo jet near the international airport at M'poko in Bangui, capital of the in the Central African Republic.

"The number of injured is very small and destruction of property almost marginal," Diego Zorrilla, UNICEF's officer-in-charge in Bangui, told IRIN.

Nevertheless, he said, UNICEF had offered the ministries of health and of social affairs
surgical equipment and supplies, as well as reinstallation material for any victims.
"Both ministries took note of the offer and promised to revert to us. We do not expect them to do so," he added.

The jet, with 25 people on board slammed into Guitangola, a popular suburb near the airport, on its landing approach, he said. News agencies reported that the Boeing-707 had been flying from the Chadian capital, Njamena, to Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, on Thursday when it diverted to Bangui with mechanical trouble, exploded on impact and broke into pieces four kilometres short of the runway threshold.

Zorrilla said 20 people aboard the aircraft died and two others were wounded. "The remaining three people who were on the aircraft are still trapped in the wreckage, and their condition is unknown," he added. There had been "no significant injuries" reported on the ground, so far.

"However, there may be casualties in the rubble of the house against which the aircraft crashed. If this is the case, the chances of finding anyone alive are very slim," he said.

Medecins Sans Frontieres-Spain provided immediate medical aid, while local firefighters coordinated search and rescue operations. The police and military ringed the crash sight to keep away crowds.