UN officials mourn relief workers killed in Afghanistan

Reacting to a recent attack in Afghanistan against relief workers from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other humanitarian organizations, senior UN officials today mourned the victims and stressed that aid personnel should be able to operate in safety.

“I am greatly saddened to have learned of yesterday's attack on a UN Children's Fund vehicle traveling between Badghis and Herat, which has resulted in the deaths of two colleagues and the serious wounding of a third,” said Tom Koenigs, who heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

UNICEF driver Sirajuddin Noorzai and an Afghan doctor working with a German medical non-governmental organization (NGO) were killed on the spot, according to the Mission. A second UNICEF staff member, Qasim Nazari, was seriously wounded and has been undergoing emergency procedures in Herat. A police escort vehicle was untouched.

“We know of no reasons why this attack should have occurred, nor can there be reason to justify murder and maiming,” Mr. Koenigs said in a statement from Kabul. “All United Nations staff here share a common commitment to seeing Afghanistan at peace, and able to rebuild. I will do all that is in my power to ensure that the individuals responsible for this are found and properly brought to account.”

These sentiments were echoed by the head of UNICEF. “We grieve at the loss of life, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those who were killed and injured yesterday,” Executive Director chief Ann M. Veneman said in a statement released in New York.

Noting that this is the second time in eight days that UNICEF staff have been attacked in the course of their work, she rejected as “unacceptable” any threat to the safety of humanitarian workers around the world.

“We rely on the understanding that we do our work to save lives, and the presumption that goodwill will protect our staff,” she said.

Friday's attacks in Afghanistan came after a gunman in eastern Chad last week seriously injured a UNICEF staff member.