President Obama on July 18 expressed the nation's regrets over the loss of numerous AIDS researchers and advocates who lost their lives aboard Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, which crashed in Ukraine July 17.
The comments came just as Obama ended a White House briefing on the crash: "On board Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, there were apparently nearly 100 researchers and advocates traveling to an international conference in Australia dedicated to combating AIDS/HIV. These were men and women who had dedicated their own lives to saving the lives of others and they were taken from us in a senseless act of violence.
"In this world today, we shouldn't forget that in the midst of conflict and killing, there are people like these—people who are focused on what can be built rather than what can be destroyed; people who are focused on how they can help people that they've never met; people who define themselves not by what makes them different from other people but by the humanity that we hold in common. It's important for us to lift them up and to affirm their lives. And it's time for us to heed their example."
Among the dead were reportedly Joep Lange, an HIV researcher from the Netherlands and a former president of the International AIDS Society; Glenn Raymond Thomas, a spokesman for the World Health Organization; Pim de Kuijer of Stop AIDS Now!; Martine de Schutter of AIDS Fonds; Jacqueline van Tongeren of AMC Department of Global Health; and Lucie van Mens of the Female Health Company.
Despite Obama's reference to 100 of the 298 fatalities being AIDS researchers and advocates, only a handful of names had been confirmed by the afternoon of July 18, Washington Post reported.
The plane was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and Perth, and many of the passengers were to connect to Melbourne, where the conference begins July 20.
Conference officials released a statement via their website: "The International AIDS Society ( IAS ) today expresses its sincere sadness at receiving news that a number of colleagues and friends en route to attend the 20th International AIDS Conference taking place in Melbourne, Australia, were on board the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight that has crashed over Ukraine earlier today.
"At this incredibly sad and sensitive time the IAS stands with our international family and sends condolences to the loved ones of those who have been lost to this tragedy."
In a July 17 statement, Human Rights Campaign officials said, "HRC wishes to extend our condolences to the friends and families of everyone aboard Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17. We are deeply saddened to learn about the deaths of the many HIV/AIDS advocates believed to be on the plane. HRC joins the international community in mourning the loss of all those who lost their lives today, including such dedicated health professionals. They will be sorely missed."
