Statement on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

Statement on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

“Our hearts are heavy in the tragic aftermath of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. The news has been particularly painful for many of us here at the Gates Foundation who had direct and personal connections to some of the HIV researchers and advocates who perished on their way to the AIDS 2014 conference in Melbourne. They worked to save lives of people they’d never met. They were our friends and colleagues and we were bonded by a common mission to make the world a better place for everyone. We stand with the international community as we mourn their passing and celebrate their contributions to the global fight against AIDS, and we offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of all those who were lost.”

– Sue Desmond-Hellmann, CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation