A talented humanitarian who brought joy to many lives — WFP Nepal

Kathmandu, March 11

The body of Ekta Adhikari, who died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash yesterday, will be brought to Nepal only after DNA verification, her kin told THT today.

Ekta was the lone Nepali on board the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft that crashed near the town of Bishoftu, killing all 149 passengers and eight crew members.

Ekta, 28, was working with World Food Programme and was stationed in Ethiopia. She was a permanent resident of Ward No 10 of Palungtar Municipality and was residing in Gorakhkali Municipality of Gorkha district before moving to Ethiopia seven months ago.

According to her uncle Ishwar Babu Adhikari, she was unmarried and had visited her family in Nepal only two months ago.

Ekta’s father Kajibabu and mother Parvati are in California, visiting their other daughters, Elina and Ila, who have been living there for the last five years. According to Ishwar Babu, Ekta’s parents will return to Kathmandu in tomorrow evening’s flight.

WFP office in Addis Ababa informed Ekta’s parents in the USA of the tragic death of their daughter. WFP office in Addis Ababa first contacted Ekta’s relatives in Nepal and took the phone number for Ekta’s parents in the USA to give them the tragic news.

The United Nations System in Nepal also informed the family here in Nepal about Ekta’s death around 7:00pm yesterday, according to Ishwar Babu. The UN System also told the family that Ekta’s body would be brought to Nepal after DNA verification. “We do not know when we’ll receive her body,” Ishwar Babu told THT.

After the tragic accident, WFP Chief David Beasley posted a statement mourning the death of WFP staff. He wrote on twitter,  “The WFP family mourns today -- @WFP staff were among those aboard the Ethiopian Airlines flight. We will do all that is humanly possible to help the families at this painful time. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

WFP Nepal also condoled Ekta’s death on twitter: “WFP stands in solidarity with family members to mourn Ekta Adhikari who died yesterday in the Ethiopian Airline tragedy. A talented humanitarian who brought joy to many lives.”

Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines has teamed up with stakeholders concerned to conduct forensic investigations and identify victims. “A committee comprising Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and Ethiopian Transport Authority has been set up to carry out investigations. Once the deceased are identified, their bodies will be delivered to their families and loved ones,” the airlines stated.