UN envoy speaks out against killing of Afghan deminers

The murder of three men working to rid Afghanistan of the scourge of landmines has sparked outrage from the top United Nations official in the country.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative Tom Koenigs said he was “appalled and saddened” to learn of the murder of the deminers, who all worked for the Mine Detection and Dog Centre in Panjwai district of Kandahar province.

Abdul Hasib, Meva Gul and Mirwais had been working to clear contaminated land when they were abducted on Saturday.

“Deminers put their own lives at risk every day to ensure the safety of Afghanistan’s communities and it is abhorrent that anyone would target such selfless individuals working tirelessly to free the people of Afghanistan from the risk of death and injury caused by landmines,” Mr. Koenigs said in a statement issued in Kabul.

He paid tribute to the three brave men, saying their sacrifice will never be forgotten by the Afghan people.