At Least Five UN Staff Killed in Kabul Attack

New York, Oct 28 2009 10:10AM

The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has strongly condemned today’s attack on a guest house in Kabul that claimed the lives of at least five staff members and injured at least nine others, and pledged that it will not deter the world body’s work in the country.

“This is very dark day for the UN in Afghanistan,” Kai Eide said in a statement.

Mr. Eide, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said he could not at this stage provide the names or nationalities of the victims of the “brutal” attack, for which the Taliban has claimed responsibility.

“My profound condolences go to the families and friends of those who have been victims of this attack. However, this is a tragic loss to each and every member of the UN family in Afghanistan,” he stated.

Three Taliban militants with suicide vests, grenades and machine guns reportedly carried out the attack which occurred early this morning.

Noting that the UN has been working in the country for more than half a century, Mr. Eide said such attacks are not only an attack against the world body but also against the Afghan people and those who need the UN’s help the most.

“This attack will not deter the UN from continuing all its work to reconstruct a war torn country and to build a better future for all Afghans,” he pledged.

ENDS

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