FROM THE FIELD
14 August 2008
Mr. Rudd
It is with deep sadness that I extend, on behalf of the International Save the Children Alliance, our sincere condolences for the deaths of three of your staff members and their driver in an ambush that took place yesterday in Logal Province, Afghanistan. We mourn the loss of Jackie Kirk, Global Education Adviser, Shirley Case, Education Manager, Nicole Dial, Child Protection Coordinator and Mohammad Aimal, their driver. I also want to convey our very best wishes for the prompt recovery of the second driver who was seriously wounded in the attack.
Our thoughts are with the families of the bereaved but also with the thousands of colleagues who will be deeply shocked by this tragic event. This is yet another tragic reminder of the risks NGOs face daily, as we work in parts of the world that are afflicted by insecurity, where humanitarian workers become deliberate targets of violence and killings. It is an awful reality that in such circumstances our work to help the most vulnerable of children is often the most needed. Your colleagues worked bravely, with dedication and tireless commitment to give children the chance of education and protection from violence. Many Save the Children staff had known and worked with them and are shocked and saddened by their deaths. In these painful circumstances please rest assured of Save the Children’s wholehearted solidarity with you and your staff.[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
