UN MINE ACTION PROGRAMME FOR AFGHANISTAN OBSERVES DAY OF RESPECT AND MOURNING

Press Release
AFG/120
IHA/716

UN MINE ACTION PROGRAMME FOR AFGHANISTAN OBSERVES DAY OF RESPECT AND MOURNING

ISLAMABAD, 10 August (Office of the United Nations Coordinator for Afghanistan) -- The Office of the United Nations Coordinator for Afghanistan and its Mine Action Programme in Islamabad and Afghanistan observed the date 10 August as a day of respect and mourning for the tragic departure of the OMAR aid workers, killed in Badghis province last Saturday, 5 August.

[OMAR is an Afghan non-governmental organization (NGO) which has been a partner in the Mine Action Programme since its inception a decade ago.]

The ceremony this morning was started by the recitation of some verses of the Holy Quran, followed by prayers and sympathy expressions by over 200 people, including diplomatic missions, United Nations agencies, local and international NGOs, colleagues and friends.

Erick De Mul, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, opened the ceremony with a speech.

Polly Bernnan, Mine Awareness Advisor, delivered a speech on behalf of the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan. Later, Zekria Payab, OMAR Programme Manager, read out the biographies of the late aid workers.

Before closing the gathering everyone was requested to commemorate the sad event in the condolence book.

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