TOP UN ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AFTER AID WORKERS KILLED IN AFGHAN ATTACK

TOP UN ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AFTER AID WORKERS KILLED IN AFGHAN ATTACK New York, Aug 13 2008 10:10AM The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has voiced his outrage at the deaths of three female international aid workers and their Afghan colleague after their vehicle was attacked.

The vehicle, belonging to the United States-based International Rescue Committee, was travelling from Kabul to Logar when it was fired on by unknown gunmen this morning.

"I condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest possible terms and urge the authorities to leave no stone unturned in the search for the perpetrators," Kai Eide, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, <"http://www.unama-afg.org/news/_statement/SRSG/2008/08aug12-IRC-staff.html">said in a statement.

"The IRC provides life saving humanitarian assistance to those most affected by the conflict and it is reprehensible that such selfless individuals working for the most vulnerable communities should be deliberately targeted in this way," he added.

Mr. Eide, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), pointed to a "growing humanitarian challenge" in the strife-torn nation, and urged all parties to recognise and respect the neutrality and independence of the humanitarian assistance being provided to the Afghan people.

Afghanistan this year has witnessed some of the worst violence since the ouster of the Taliban six years ago, with humanitarian aid workers and their vehicles coming under increasing attack.

Just last month, a UN World Food Programme (WFP) convoy transporting more than 320 tons of vital food aid was attacked in the western province of Farah. Two trucks were torched, and another eight were stolen.
2008-08-13 00:00:00.000

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