UN envoy to Afghanistan deplores deadly attack against German aid agency

1 Apr 2010

UN envoy to Afghanistan deplores deadly attack against German aid agency

KABUL - The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has condemned an attack by gunmen against a German aid agency in the east of the country that killed a local engineer and severely injured an international aid worker.

Said Anwar, an engineer from the nearby province of Wardak, died on 27 March after unknown men opened fire in Khost at the offices of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) agency, where he had worked.

Wolfgang Herdt, a German national who had worked in the region for almost seven years, was badly injured in the same attack and has been flown home for further medical treatment, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported today.

Staffan de Mistura, the head of UNAMA and the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, yesterday deplored the attack and offered his condolences to the family of Mr. Anwar.

“My Afghan colleagues have said they want to continue working and working hard for the development of this province. That is a sign of courage and of hope for the country,” he said after meeting with local UN staff who helped rescue Mr Herdt and recover the body of Mr Anwar.