A “substantial” number of people from the HIV/AIDs field were on a plane shot down above Ukraine. An unconfirmed number of the 298 people on the Malaysian Airlines flight were travelling to AIDS2014, a global HIV/AIDS conference due to begin in Melbourne on Sunday. Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has been unable to give a precise figure, but has confirmed many of those killed were on their way to the gathering. “There's been confirmed a number of senior people who were coming out here who were researchers, who were medical scientists, doctors, people who've been to the forefront of dealing with AIDS across the world,” Napthine told reporters in Melbourne. “The exact number is not yet known, but there is no doubt it's a substantial number.” Joep Lange has been confirmed among the dead The International AIDS Society, which is running AIDS2014, has expressed “sincere sadness” at the tragedy. “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.” It says if reports its own former President Joep Lange was among the dead were true, “then the HIV/AIDS movement has truly lost a giant”. Lange has since been confirmed killed. He was a clinical was a clinical researcher from The Netherlands, specialising in HIV therapy. The International AIDS Society says it’s continuing to work with the authorities to clarify how the tragedy “impacts our conference delegates, our conference partners, and our community as a whole”. “In recognition of our colleagues' dedication to the fight against HIV/AIDS, the conference will go ahead as planned and will include opportunities to reflect and remember those we have lost.” Fireworks planned for tonight have been cancelled. Messages of hope will tonight be projected onto Melbourne's Hamer Hall to honour the victims. All flags from government buildings will be flown at half-mast through the conference. Meanwhile, at World HIV Conference venues in Melbourne delegates at pre-conference meetings have been observing a minute's silence to pay respect to those delegates who perished aboard MH17 en route to the conference.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 18th July 2014 - 6:53pm