World Vision Mourns the Death of Two Employees in Afghanistan
July 25, 2006 at 9:16 am (J333)
Afghanistan, July 25, 2006—The bodies of two World Vision Afghanistan employees shot and killed on Saturday, July 22, have been returned to their families for burial.Afghanistan driver Naqibullah (one word, full name) had worked with a World Vision program for two years. His passenger, Abdul Zaher, a pharmacy stock keeper, joined World Vision 22 months ago.
The two Afghani nationals were returning to the city of Chagcharan, the capital of Ghowr province, from a World Vision health clinic in the village of Charsada when they were attacked by a group of unknown men. The pair radioed their travel location to the base at Chagcharan at 6 p.m. local time. Two hours later they were found shot to death outside their World Vision vehicle.
A witness told authorities that approximately eight men with guns attacked the vehicle. One bullet pierced the windshield and another went through the door. When the two men inside got out to surrender they were shot dead and the vehicle was destroyed with continued rounds of gunfire.
The incident has prompted World Vision to close some programs in the area and impose strict guidelines on travel. World Vision has also sent trained staff to provide critical incident debriefings with Afghanistan staff and the families of the deceased. All staff have returned from the field to the safety of Chagcharan. The Afghanistan Ministry of Health has shut down health clinics in the area while World Vision Afghanistan and local authorities investigate the incident. The motive for the killings is unknown at this time.
