Laurent
DuPasquier
Laurent DuPasquier profile's picture
Ukraine

We remember Laurent DuPasquier

Laurent Du Pasquier was born on 15 July 1976 and grew up in the western Swiss city of Neuchâtel. After finishing high school, Laurent specialized in business studies and began an apprenticeship with Credit Suisse, in Neuchâtel, in 1994. He remained in the Swiss banking and finance sector for the next decade and a half, working in Fribourg and Basel, before moving to Geneva in 2004 – the same year he received his business administration degree from the Neuchâtel School of Business Administration.


Known affectionately to his friends as “Lolo” or “DuPaq’”, Laurent had a big heart and desire to do good. In Neuchâtel he had worked as a volunteer driver in his spare time. It therefore came as little surprise when he married his professional skills with his humanitarian spirit and joined the ICRC in August 2008 as an administration and finance manager.


It was the perfect marriage. Laurent’s first assignment took him to Muzaffarabad, northern Pakistan, where he hit the ground running, earning the thanks and recognition of everyone he worked with. After Pakistan, there followed postings to Yemen, Haiti and Egypt. Then came Papua New Guinea, where he was appointed to the newly created role of administration and finance manager at the regional level, which meant he also covered Canberra (Australia) and Suva (Fiji). 


Laurent was selfless, generous, loyal, humble and caring. His infectious smile, positive outlook and sense of humour generated warmth wherever he went. One of his biggest strengths as an administration and finance manager was his “people-oriented” approach, whether in his dealings with staff or interactions with other departments. Likewise, he was always true to the values and principles of the ICRC, never losing sight of institutional or operational goals.


After completing these five assignments, Laurent left the ICRC in September 2013 to spend time with family and friends in Neuchâtel and explore other avenues. But when fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014, the ICRC sought his expertise and calm professionalism as an administration and finance manager once again. Laurent answered the call, embarking in August that year on a three-month posting to the city of Donetsk. It was there, on 2 October 2014, that he was killed outside the ICRC’s office, when a shell landed close by. He was 38 years old.


Laurent had found in the ICRC a place where he could be true to himself and everything he believed in. A place where he could excel and be the best of himself. A place where his big heart could thrive in the service of others. 

The ICRC in
Ukraine, 2014

When Laurent arrived in Donetsk in August 2014, the ICRC was in the process of expanding its presence and operations in Ukraine. The country had been wracked by unrest after violent demonstrations broke out in late 2013 in Kyiv and other areas, causing hundreds of casualties. Crimea declared independence from Ukraine in March, while in eastern and southern Ukraine, clashes took place between government forces and armed groups. In early 2014 we focused on supporting the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in its emergency-response activities during the clashes and demonstrations. Our increased presence in the country – which included upgrading our Kyiv office to a delegation and opening offices in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Lugansk, Mariupol, Odessa and Severodonetsk – meant teams could provide direct assistance, particularly after hostilities broke out in the east. We supplied hospitals with medical equipment and supported first-aid posts. Tens of thousands of people affected by the fighting received food, household/hygiene items and other aid. Following Laurent’s tragic death, we reduced our activities in eastern Ukraine until the end of November, when the authorities and armed groups reiterated their acceptance of our humanitarian activities.

Memories

Laurent profoundly changed my perspective on life during our time working with the ICRC in Ukraine. Just a week before we were to head into the field, he selflessly offered to swap assignments with me, knowing there was more work to be done in Donetsk. On the morning before his passing, we had a Skype call where we discussed setting up and supporting the new offices, sharing jokes as we often did. Even under immense pressure, Laurent always found a way to lift the mood. That’s how I will always remember him — thoughtful, professional, and a source of joy even in the toughest moments. I miss him deeply.

Ervin
23 May 2025
Ervin Villalon
Mon Laurent,
10 ans déjà et tu es toujours dans mon coeur. Nous en avons passé du temps ensemble, à commencer par nos années d'apprentissage puis la HEG. Puis, c'est grâce à toi, à tes encouragements, que je suis entrée au CICR.
Malheureusement, nous n'avons pas eu la chance de passer une mission ensemble. Mais c'était le plan ! A ton retour de Donetsk, nous devions partir, toi, Stéphanie et moi, pour le Soudand du Sud ! Tu n'es pas rentré et nous sommes parties quand même parties, avec toi dans nos coeurs.
A me remémorer tous nos beaux moments, les larmes montent toujours mais elles sont accompagnées d'un sourire. Car c'est ainsi que je me souviens de toi: un géant au grand coeur.
Tu me manques...
Karin
23 May 2025
Karin Hofinger
"Quand tu regarderas le ciel, la nuit, puisque j'habiterai dans l'une d'elles, puisque je rirai dans l'une d'elles, alors ce sera pour toi comme si riaient toutes les étoiles. Tu auras toi, des étoiles qui savent rire." Merci pour tous ces merveilleux souvenirs. Nous ne t'oublions pas et tu nous manques
23 May 2025
Stephanie Gogniat
Chers parents de Laurent,
Cela fait maintenant 10 ans que Laurent nous a quittés dans des circonstances tragiques. Je me souviens encore de notre première rencontre au Yémen en 2010. Nous avons partagé de nombreux moments de bonheur, notamment lors de nos soirées ensemble. Son départ soudain nous a profondément marqués. En souvenir de lui, je vous envoie cette photo prise lors de notre voyage à Saada, à l’occasion de la réouverture de la sous-délégation. De là-haut, Laurent restera toujours dans nos cœurs.
23 May 2025
Jean-Claude Chesaux
23 May 2025
Stéphanie
23 May 2025
Stéphanie

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