UN confirms killing of staff member in attack in Ethiopia

[News_Editor]

UN confirms killing of staff member in attack in Ethiopia

2011-05-17 06:16:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Monday confirmed that one staff member was killed after an attack in Ethiopia's remote Somali region.

Farhan Hamsa, who worked as a WFP driver, died on Friday when unknown assailants ambushed a UN convoy that was on a monitoring mission. In addition, two other WFP staff members remain missing.

"I am deeply saddened by this deplorable killing," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. "This is the second deadly attack on a WFP humanitarian worker in less than a month."

Only one member of the four-people team survived the attack. Farhan worked at the Jijiga sub-office in the Somali Region. He had been a WFP staff worker since 2006. He leaves behind a wife and seven children.

"Every day WFP drivers like Farhan deliver life-saving help to the most vulnerable under conditions of great danger and hardship. They are my heroes," added the WFP chief.

On April 22, WFP Senior Program Assistant, Santino Pigga Alex Wani, was killed in an ambush in Southern Sudan. Santino was on a mission in Jonglei State when unknown individuals attacked the vehicle in which he was traveling.

"Humanitarian workers need and deserve the protection of all as they seek to protect the vulnerable and save innocent lives," Sheeran said. “We call upon the world to join us in condemning such actions as the killing of Farhan."

The WFP has long been active in the Horn of Africa region and currently provides food assistance to 4.5 million people in Ethiopia, including refugees and school children in highly food insecure areas.

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