SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF MURDER OF SEVEN RELIEF WORKERS IN WESTERN AFGHANISTAN

Press Release
SG/SM/7507
AFG/119

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF MURDER OF SEVEN RELIEF WORKERS IN WESTERN AFGHANISTAN

The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the ambush and murder of seven relief workers on 5 August, while they were travelling from Badghis to Herat in western Afghanistan. He was shocked at the depth of violence of this unwarranted attack on humanitarian personnel that included the torching of the two vehicles being used by the victims.

The relief workers were part of the United Nations-supported mine-action programme for Afghanistan, which is a vital component of the humanitarian programme in the country.

The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Afghan non-governmental organization OMAR which employed them. The use of landmines in Afghanistan continues to jeopardize the safety and lives of civilians and relief workers.

The Secretary-General calls upon all parties involved in the conflict in Afghanistan to take immediate measures to apprehend those responsible for this crime and to bring them to justice. The Secretary-General hopes that urgent steps will be taken to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel and civilians in Afghanistan.

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