International Medical Corps is deeply saddened to announce that three of its staff members were killed, and another severely injured, in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, July 4.
The International Medical Corps personnel were killed while leaving their village following warnings of an imminent attack.
While details of the attack remain uncertain, early indications point to a coalition air strike which hit a public transport vehicle carrying local villagers and International Medical Corps staff. The strike resulted in the death of at least 16 people, and left an estimated 11 others wounded. Advance notice of possible military operations in and around the remote district of Waygal, located in the mountainous northeast province of Nuristan about 30 miles from the border with Pakistan, had been issued by coalition forces, prompting the villagers and International Medical Corps staff to flee.
"The deaths of Najeebullah, Naeem and Niamatullah are a huge loss for International Medical Corps and the community that benefits from the work of our dedicated staff," said Nancy Aossey, President & CEO of International Medical Corps. "This tragic incident is a reminder of how dangerous our work can be. Our thoughts are with our deceased colleagues' families as well as with Zanib and her loved ones and we wish her a quick and full recovery from her injuries."
International Medical Corps launched its first program in Afghanistan in 1984 during the Soviet occupation. It has continued to provide life-saving medical care and training throughout the country ever since and is the only international NGO operating in the province, where it provides primary health care services to the general population.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
An Afghan policeman carries an injured man after a suicide attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul July 7, 2008. A Taliban suicide car bomb hit the Indian Embassy in Kabul ...
