Christian Aid signals concern at Afghan NGO killing
-28/10/05
Christian Aid has expressed deep concern at the murder of a staff member from one of its partner organisations in Afghanistan, less than a week after five local aid workers were killed in the southern province of Kandahar.
Regional commentators say that the attacks threaten to further undermine the stability of Afghanistan and its fragile recovery process.
An employee of the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (CHA) relief agency was attacked and killed by suspected Taleban guerrillas in the north-western province of Faryab. Three colleagues were also wounded in the ambush.
In the first ten months of 2005 alone, 25 aid workers have been killed in Afghanistan. Last year the country suffered the highest number of NGO casualties in the world.
“These attacks reduce the process of development and cut humanitarian services to Afghan communities,” said Dr Mohammed Fareed Waqfi, the head of CHA in Kabul. “This incident was not the first or the last.”
Observers say the fact that such attacks are occurring with increasing regularity demonstrates that both the Afghan government and the international community are failing to provide basic security to civilians.
Civilians have become targets for opportunistic militants who are exploiting the lack of coordination between Afghan national forces and international military forces.
ìIt is imperative that all countries who have committed troops and money for reconstruction in Afghanistan work harder with the Afghan government to put in place an effective and coordinated security strategy,î urged Ben Hobbs, Christian Aidís advocacy officer.
He added: ìThis will reduce the risk of attacks in future and see criminal acts punished in the country, whoever they are perpetrated against. The rule of law needs to prevail over the existing culture of impunity ñ indeed no lasting economic and political development can take place without this.î
Two choices now remain for local aid workers in Afghanistan: continue their work with the risk of more loss of life, or withdraw from areas that have become too dangerous to reach.
In the latter instance local communities that are not provided for by the government are likely to become further isolated and marginalised.
ìNGOs have become soft targets,î said Sultan Maqsood Fazil on behalf of Christian Aid in Afghanistan. ìIf this trend continuesÖwe will not be able to achieve our development goals which in turn will affect the lives of ordinary Afghans whom we seek to serve.î
Christian Aid signals concern at Afghan NGO killing
-28/10/05
Christian Aid has expressed deep concern at the murder of a staff member from one of its partner organisations in Afghanistan, less than a week after five local aid workers were killed in the southern province of Kandahar.
Regional commentators say that the attacks threaten to further undermine the stability of Afghanistan and its fragile recovery process.
An employee of the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (CHA) relief agency was attacked and killed by suspected Taleban guerrillas in the north-western province of Faryab. Three colleagues were also wounded in the ambush.
In the first ten months of 2005 alone, 25 aid workers have been killed in Afghanistan. Last year the country suffered the highest number of NGO casualties in the world.
“These attacks reduce the process of development and cut humanitarian services to Afghan communities,” said Dr Mohammed Fareed Waqfi, the head of CHA in Kabul. “This incident was not the first or the last.”
Observers say the fact that such attacks are occurring with increasing regularity demonstrates that both the Afghan government and the international community are failing to provide basic security to civilians.
Civilians have become targets for opportunistic militants who are exploiting the lack of coordination between Afghan national forces and international military forces.
‘It is imperative that all countries who have committed troops and money for reconstruction in Afghanistan work harder with the Afghan government to put in place an effective and coordinated security strategy,’ urged Ben Hobbs, Christian Aid’s advocacy officer.
He added: ‘This will reduce the risk of attacks in future and see criminal acts punished in the country, whoever they are perpetrated against. The rule of law needs to prevail over the existing culture of impunity – indeed no lasting economic and political development can take place without this.’
Two choices now remain for local aid workers in Afghanistan: continue their work with the risk of more loss of life, or withdraw from areas that have become too dangerous to reach.
In the latter instance local communities that are not provided for by the government are likely to become further isolated and marginalised.
‘NGOs have become soft targets,’ said Sultan Maqsood Fazil on behalf of Christian Aid in Afghanistan. ‘If this trend continuesÖwe will not be able to achieve our development goals which in turn will affect the lives of ordinary Afghans whom we seek to serve.’