The UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, today expressed grave concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation for humanitarian workers in that country. He also expressed deep concern over the unacceptable level of violence against Somali civilians. Recent killings have brought the number of aid-related workers killed in Somalia this year to 19. Bowden said it is intolerable that humanitarian workers striving to save lives in one of the most difficult environments in the world are being targeted and killed.
The United Nations, for its part, is urgently taking measures to ensure the protection of its staff in Somalia while at the same time allowing them to carry on with their vital humanitarian work.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that gunmen in Somalia have killed an agent for a WFP-contracted transport company. He was the fifth such staff member to be killed in Somalia this year. WFP condemns the shootings, but says it is committed to operating in Somalia, adding that more than two million people need aid in that country because of drought and high food prices.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment