EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR CONDEMNS KILLING OF AID WORKER IN SOMALIA

EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR CONDEMNS KILLING OF AID WORKER IN SOMALIA

NEW YORK, 23 March (OCHA) -– The international humanitarian community is condemning an attack in Somaliland which has left one aid worker dead and two others injured.  On 19 March, staff of the German Agency for Technical Assistance were ambushed outside Berabera in Somaliland.

“This killing of one of our colleagues is a tragic reminder of the risks humanitarian workers face every day.”  “Such attacks cannot be tolerated”, said Jan Egeland, The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator.  “I extend my sincere condolences to the victim’s family and wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery.”

In a statement on 19 March, The Somalia Aid Coordination Body comprising donors, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations expressed its deep shock and sorrow over the attack.  The Coordination Body sees this most recent tragedy as a continuing serious deterioration in security focused on international aid workers in Somalia.  The Coordination Body added that it expects the Somaliland Administration to do everything necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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