Acting Humanitarian Coordinator deeply saddened by killing of three aid workers in Ghor province [EN/Dari]

Kabul, 15 August 2017: Reacting to the news that three national staff members of the NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have been killed and two injured on 14 August 2017 in Ghor Province, Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, made the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened by the shooting and killing of three staff members of CRS in Ghor Province. I share the grief of our colleagues at CRS and extend heart-felt condolences on behalf of the Humanitarian Community to our friends at CRS and the families of those killed.”

This most recent attack highlights the challenges aid workers face and the sacrifices aid workers make when working in Afghanistan. Since the start of 2017, twelve (12) aid workers have been killed and as many injured whilst delivering their programmes to those in need.

Aid workers in Afghanistan provide emergency trauma care, run nutrition feeding programmes for malnourished children, and assist families displaced by conflict and natural disasters. Attacks against aid workers lessen their ability to carry out these essential activities, leaving the most vulnerable girls, boys, women and men in Afghanistan most at risk.

“I call on all parties to ensure that those providing humanitarian assistance have safe access to the most vulnerable and can carry out their lifesaving work unhindered,” Dr Peeperkorn added.