Statement by Sergio Vieira de Mello, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

It is with profound sorrow and regret that I have learned of the deaths yesterday of Sumaln Samson Ohin and Hag Ali Hammad of WFP and of Magboul Magboul of the Sudanese Red Crescent, who were killed as they were carrying out humanitarian relief work in South Kordofan State in Sudan. I am also greatly saddened by the injuries inflicted upon Kamal Debayo, Ahmed Alia Jebouri and Al Hag Kuringi of the Sudanese Red Crescent.
There is no justification for violence against humanitarian personnel whose only aim is to relieve suffering. On behalf of the international humanitarian community, I condemn such heinous acts.

I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims, to the World Food Programme and to the Sudanese Red Crescent, and wish for the speediest recovery of the wounded .

10 June 1998