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Aid women killed in Afghanistan | Aid women killed in Afghanistan |
(30 minutes later) | |
Three female international aid workers have been shot dead along with their Afghan driver near Kabul. | Three female international aid workers have been shot dead along with their Afghan driver near Kabul. |
The women worked for the International Rescue Committee (IRC). It said one was American, one Trinidadian and another had dual British-Canadian citizenship. | The women worked for the International Rescue Committee (IRC). It said one was American, one Trinidadian and another had dual British-Canadian citizenship. |
A second Afghan driver was hurt when unidentified gunmen fired on two cars carrying the group in Logar province. | A second Afghan driver was hurt when unidentified gunmen fired on two cars carrying the group in Logar province. |
Aid agencies are frequently targeted in the Afghan conflict, with convoys attacked and staff abducted or killed. | Aid agencies are frequently targeted in the Afghan conflict, with convoys attacked and staff abducted or killed. |
International aid groups have been unable to operate in many southern provinces for some time because of insecurity. More recently, violence has been spreading to other areas. | International aid groups have been unable to operate in many southern provinces for some time because of insecurity. More recently, violence has been spreading to other areas. |
Logar - which lies just to the south of the capital - had been relatively stable but has become increasingly violent in recent months. | Logar - which lies just to the south of the capital - had been relatively stable but has become increasingly violent in recent months. |
The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul says the United Nations now classifies the province as high risk. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul says the United Nations now classifies the province as high risk. |
Bodies | Bodies |
The Afghan interior ministry and local police say the three women and their two Afghan colleagues were travelling through Logar to Kabul when they were attacked. They were in a two-vehicle convoy. They were American, Canadian and Irish Abdul Majid Latifi, Logar deputy police chief | The Afghan interior ministry and local police say the three women and their two Afghan colleagues were travelling through Logar to Kabul when they were attacked. They were in a two-vehicle convoy. They were American, Canadian and Irish Abdul Majid Latifi, Logar deputy police chief |
Logar's deputy police chief, Abdul Majid Latifi, said those killed had been travelling in two cars when another vehicle carrying armed men opened fire on them. | Logar's deputy police chief, Abdul Majid Latifi, said those killed had been travelling in two cars when another vehicle carrying armed men opened fire on them. |
The bodies were taken to the governor's compound in the provincial capital, Puli Alam. | The bodies were taken to the governor's compound in the provincial capital, Puli Alam. |
The IRC says it is alerting family members and is expected to issue a statement shortly. | The IRC says it is alerting family members and is expected to issue a statement shortly. |
Earlier, police in Logar said the nationalities of the women were American, Canadian and Irish, but IRC officials say this is not correct. | Earlier, police in Logar said the nationalities of the women were American, Canadian and Irish, but IRC officials say this is not correct. |
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and it is not clear who might have carried it out. | |
A senior Afghan security official told the BBC he believed a criminal gang had collaborated with the Taleban over the attack. | |
The aid workers had apparently changed cars for security reasons, and the details of their vehicles may have been passed on to their attackers. | |
UN special representative to Afghanistan Kai Ede said he was shocked by the attack. | |
'Grave concern' | 'Grave concern' |
Earlier this month aid agencies warned they may become unable to operate in parts of Afghanistan once seen as safe, because of the intensifying conflict. AFGHAN AID ATTACKS 2008: An estimated 84 attacks on aid agencies so far, 21 in JuneJuly 2008: Two French aid workers abducted, but later freed May 2008: UN shuts a repatriation centre in the east amid unrest Jan 2008: US female NGO worker seized in the southJuly 2007: Two South Korean aid workers shot deadApril 2007: Two French aid workers seized in the south-west March 2007: Gunmen shoot dead a German aid worker in the north | Earlier this month aid agencies warned they may become unable to operate in parts of Afghanistan once seen as safe, because of the intensifying conflict. AFGHAN AID ATTACKS 2008: An estimated 84 attacks on aid agencies so far, 21 in JuneJuly 2008: Two French aid workers abducted, but later freed May 2008: UN shuts a repatriation centre in the east amid unrest Jan 2008: US female NGO worker seized in the southJuly 2007: Two South Korean aid workers shot deadApril 2007: Two French aid workers seized in the south-west March 2007: Gunmen shoot dead a German aid worker in the north |
The Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief (Acbar), an umbrella group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), pointed to a 50% increase in insurgent attacks compared to last year. | The Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief (Acbar), an umbrella group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), pointed to a 50% increase in insurgent attacks compared to last year. |
It expressed its "grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the serious impact on civilians". | It expressed its "grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the serious impact on civilians". |
June saw more attacks on NGOs than in any month since the Taleban's overthrow in 2001 and some agencies had been forced to scale back operations, the statement said. | June saw more attacks on NGOs than in any month since the Taleban's overthrow in 2001 and some agencies had been forced to scale back operations, the statement said. |
Nineteen aid workers had been killed so far this year - more than during the whole of 2007, said Acbar. | Nineteen aid workers had been killed so far this year - more than during the whole of 2007, said Acbar. |
Some 2,500 people had been killed this year, up to 1,000 of them civilians, Acbar said. | Some 2,500 people had been killed this year, up to 1,000 of them civilians, Acbar said. |
Kabul blamed the rise in insurgent attacks on the Pakistani government's attempts to negotiate peace deals with militants in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. | Kabul blamed the rise in insurgent attacks on the Pakistani government's attempts to negotiate peace deals with militants in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. |
Nato commanders have said violence is up by some 40% in eastern Afghanistan since spring this year, partly due to troops patrolling more areas. | Nato commanders have said violence is up by some 40% in eastern Afghanistan since spring this year, partly due to troops patrolling more areas. |