European Commission condemns murder of NGO staff in Afghanistan

The European Commission strongly condemns the murder in Eastern Afghanistan of two national staff members of the German NGO, Malteser Hilfsdienst, who were on a mission to provide basic assistance to vulnerable rural people. These latest killings are further evidence that aid workers are being deliberately targeted by groups with no respect for the humanitarian principles that would normally provide some protection to aid workers in conflict situations. The insecurity is compounded by certain practices of elements of the Coalition forces that contribute to a blurring of the distinction between humanitarian and military personnel, and undermine the perception that humanitarian workers are neutral and impartial.

Poul Nielson, the EU Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, strongly condemned the attack: "I am shocked to hear about the murder of two aid workers in Afghanistan. As with other members of the humanitarian community in Afghanistan, they were ensuring that much-needed aid reached the many thousands of Afghans living in desperate conditions. The repeated targeting of humanitarian workers and the shrinking humanitarian space in Afghanistan undermines our ability to deliver that crucial help. All my sympathy goes to the families of the deceased, to their friends, and to their colleagues in Malteser Hilfsdienst".

For the Commission, it is crucial that the perpetrators of these murders, as well as those of the five Médecins Sans Frontières workers killed in early June, are brought to justice. If the killers are able to strike with impunity then it will be too dangerous for humanitarian workers to venture into the most vulnerable and remote areas of Afghanistan.

Background

The Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) recently adopted a funding decision for €35 million to support vulnerable people in Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan. Some operations have already been suspended or reduced in scale and it cannot be excluded that others may follow. ECHO is continuing to monitor the situation in co-ordination with its operational partners and other agencies. The main hope is for an improved security situation that will allow humanitarian aid operations fully to resume.

More information on ECHO activities at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/index_en.htm

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• EUHR Solana expresses shock after killing of MSF workers in Afghanistan  (3/6/2004)
• The European Union and Afghanistan (30/3/2004)
• EU Presidency declaration on the ICRC staff murder in Afghanistan (8/4/2003)