Members of the World Food Programme had lost their lives after an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) David Beasley said.
"We will do all that is humanly possible to help the families at this painful time. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers," he wrote on his Twitter page.
The Boeing airliner bound for the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, took off at 8:44 am local time, losing contact with air traffic control at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, just six minutes later, according to news reports. The plane was reportedly carrying 149 passengers and eight crew members from more than 35 different countries.
Three Russian nationals were also among the passengers.
