Port-au-Prince, 4 January 2012 - The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) informs with great sadness that on 30 December 2011, at 1500 hours, a Blue Helmet died accidentally just before exiting his base in Port-au-Prince when he fell off the back of a moving vehicle.

Private Diego Mendes Dos Santos was part of the Second Brazilian battalion and was preparing to conduct a routine patrol. Dos Santos, of Sao Paulo, was 22 years old and arrived to the mission in September.  He was regularly assigned to security patrols that support establishing a stable and safe environment in the community.

“We have lost a United Nations family member. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers go out to his family and friends,” said Major General Luiz Ramos, MINUSTAH's Force Commander. “The loss of a soldier is never easy, but his dedication to duty and selfless service to others will forever remain an example for us all.”