News

MH17: The Facts

20 July 2014

By Lauren E. White

Today it has emerged that the remains of up to 196 people who lost their lives on flight MH17 have been loaded onto a refrigerated train headed to an unknown location. In the wake of this news, we look back on the facts of this horrific incident:

The Malaysia Airlines flight was allegedly shot down by pro-Russian rebels as it made its way from Holland to Kuala Lumpur, carrying 298 innocent people on board. Some of the passengers on the plane were heading home to their families, while others died with their family in mid-air. It was confirmed that one hundred UNICEF volunteers were also on the flight. Perhaps the most harrowing part of the tragedy came from the fact two Newcastle United fans were on board, flying to see the team play a friendly match in New Zealand.  John Alder who was in his 60s and Liam Sweeney, 28, were so close to home it has shocked so many people in our region, even Sunderland FC paid tribute by raising well over £12,000 for a floral memorial dedicated to the fans.

World leaders have contacted the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to tell him he must take more action to protect the crash site. David Cameron has in very recent news contacted Putin and demanded he ‘must ensure access to the crash site so that victims can have proper funerals’ which suggests he is nearing the end of his tether with the lack of protection for the victims. Meanwhile the Israeli PM expressed his ‘deep pain’ for the victims’ families in a lengthy statement regarding the situation.

No matter what the outcome of this horrendous disaster, we must pray for those who have lost loved ones and hope that soon they can be with them to begin the grieving process. Let us have our children, wives, husbands, brothers and sisters back, Putin. We need them.

 

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