Killing Of UNHCR Official In Peshawar Affects Relief Operation

The killing of an official of UNHCR has badly affected the relief operation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Malakand Division as the donor agencies affiliated with the UN have curtailed their activities. The Emergency Response Unit established by the government of NWFP for monitoring and controlling relief operation has made arrangements for providing transportation to the returning IDPs. But the killing of UNHCR official has brought some negative impacts on the relief operation.

"An official of the Peshawar sub-office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and a security guard were killed on Thursday when a group of armed men opened fire at them in a failed kidnapping bid, police said.

The incident took place in the Katcha Garhi camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), located near the boundary of the militancy-hit Khyber tribal agency. Police sources told The News that four armed men, who had come to the IDPs camp in a car, tried to seize the UN officials, prompting a security guard to open fire at them. The kidnappers fired back, killing UNHCR official Major (retd) Zill-e-Usman on the spot.

Ishfaq Ahmad, repatriation clerk at the UNHCR, and Allauddin, a security guard of the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees (CAR), sustained bullet injuries. The latter succumbed to his injuries at the Rehman Medical Complex, Hayatabad. The gunmen managed to flee.

Nasir Bagh police station registered a case against unknown attackers.A statement issued by the UNHCR said at 11:30 am some unknown armed men in an apparent kidnapping attempt opened fire at the UNHCR staff in Katcha Garhi camp. ìAs a result, Zill-e-Usman, a senior UNHCR national staff, was killed while repatriation clerk Ishfaq Ahmad got injured,î the statement said.

Zill-e-Usman, 59, a Pakistani national, left behind a wife and four children. He had joined the UNHCRís office in Peshawar in 1984 and was the chairman of UNHCRís Staff Council in Peshawar.

His family members after his assassination on Thursday complained to the UN officials that he wasnít provided adequate security. The UNHCR said it was in contact with the families and was closely monitoring the progress of its injured official Ishfaq Ahmad.

The UNHCR has said it would continue working at Katcha Garhi camp despite the assassination of Zill-e-Usman. Agencies add: UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres has expressed outrage at the killing of Zill-e-Usman in Peshawar, saying there is ìno justificationî for attacks on aid workers.

ìIt is unacceptable that humanitarian workers doing such vital and selfless work are attacked in this way,î Guterres said in a statement highlighting his outrage. ìThere is no justification for attacks on humanitarian workers dedicated to the protection and care of the most vulnerable people,î he said, and expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the slain aid worker.

Guterres called on the armed groups to stop attacking aid workers and to ìshow respectî for not just civilians, but also those providing assistance. The French Foreign Ministry in a statement also condemned the killing of the UNHCR official. According to the statement, the French government expressed its condolences to the Pakistani authorities and to the families and colleagues of the victims."

Source: thenews.com.pk