Six World Vision Staff Killed in Pakistan
16/03/2010 3:52:50 PM
Credit: CWS/Pakistan
Act for Peace offers its condolences to the families of those affected by the attacks that claimed the lives of 6 World Vision staff members and hospitalized a further 8 employees in the Mansehra District of Pakistan.
World Vision's compound is located 65 kilometers north of Mansehra town. Reports confirm that gunmen entered the compound, threw grenades, and opened fire on staff inside the office. They left the compound after exploding a self-made bomb.
No threatening letters were received prior to the attack. World Vision’s relief and development work in Pakistan is conducted by local citizens. Local leaders have strongly condemned the attack. World Vision sees the attack not only as an attack on its own local staff, but also on the Pakistani people themselves.
All of World Vision’s operations in Pakistan have been suspended for the time being.
James Thomson, Act for Peace Director of Policy and Advocacy, said, “It is indeed a very sad reminder of the tenuous nature of our work and the importance we must all place on staff security and wellbeing.”
Act for Peace also works with local partners in Pakistan to provide education, food security, health and protection for people displaced by the conflict between the government and Taliban militants.
