Top UN relief official condemns attack against aid workers in Burundi

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator today denounced a recent rebel attack on a UN food convoy in Burundi which left four aid workers injured, one critically.

In a statement released in New York, Kenzo Oshima condemned Monday's attack by a group of heavily armed militiamen on a convoy of the World Food Programme (WFP) in south-east Burundi. Three of the four relief workers wounded in the attack were working for WFP, while the fourth was employed by a non-governmental relief organization.

Mr. Oshima called on all armed factions to adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law, and to cease and desist from targeting humanitarian relief workers and the civilian population.

The three-vehicle convoy, part of WFP's ongoing effort to feed some 20,000 people in south-east Burundi, was carrying approximately 60 tonnes of food when it was attacked on Monday morning.