UN condemns 'horrific' attack that killed four UNICEF staff in Somalia

“All of us at UNICEF are deeply saddened, and deeply angered,” Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive-Director, said in a statement to the press.

At about 8:00 this morning, a suspected IED (improvised explosive device) targeted a UN vehicle in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia. A UNICEF statement said that the IED attack occurred when the staffs were travelling from their guest house to the office, normally a three-minute drive. Emergency response operations are ongoing.

“The horrific attack on our UNICEF colleagues today in northern Somalia is an assault not only on them but on the people they served. Our immediate thoughts are with the families of the four staff members who were killed and with those who were injured,” Mr. Lake added.

“Our colleagues dedicated their lives to working for the children of Somalia. They are not victims. They and those who were wounded are heroes. We mourn their loss and hope for the full recovery of the injured,” he said.

“This is truly a terrible, terrible day for UNICEF, and indeed for all those for whom these colleagues were working in the country,” said Edward Carwardine, Deputy Director of Communications at UNICEF in an interview with UN Radio.

He said that UNICEF has been in Somalia since 1972 and its programmes are now focused particularly on areas such as water, education, child health nutrition and the protection of children. The agency, he said “is working for some of the most vulnerable children and families in that part of the country.”

And despite today’s tragedy, Mr. Carwardine said, “UNICEF’s ongoing work for these most vulnerable children is our priority and we are committed to continuing that as best we can.”

Earlier this morning, the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) also condemned the attack calling it a “complete disregard for the lives of people working on the humanitarian and development needs of the people of Somalia is despicable.”

“I am shocked and horrified by what took place today in Garowe,” Nicholas Kay, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia and head of the UN mission (UNSOM) there said in a statement.

“Our UN colleagues are saddened but unified in the face of this tragedy. The United Nations remains determined to stand by the people of Somalia. My deepest sympathies and thoughts are with the friends and families of all those who lost their lives, and those injured and affected,” Mr. Kay said.