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2 Foreign Aid Workers Are Gunned Down in Afghanistan, Officials Say 2 Foreign Aid Workers Are Gunned Down in Afghanistan, Officials Say
(about 3 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Two Western women employed by an international aid organization were shot dead Thursday morning in the western city of Herat, Afghan officials said.KABUL, Afghanistan — Two Western women employed by an international aid organization were shot dead Thursday morning in the western city of Herat, Afghan officials said.
The women were traveling in a taxi in the city center when a motorcyclist opened fire on them, said Sami Wafa, an aide to the governor of Herat Province. “An investigation is underway and so far no one has been arrested,” Mr. Wafa said.The women were traveling in a taxi in the city center when a motorcyclist opened fire on them, said Sami Wafa, an aide to the governor of Herat Province. “An investigation is underway and so far no one has been arrested,” Mr. Wafa said.
The women’s names and nationalities were not immediately known, nor was it clear which aid organization they worked for. Mr. Wafa described the women as middle-aged. “They were inside a taxi and we have no idea as of now what they were doing in downtown Herat city,” he said. The women worked for the International Assistance Mission, were both from Finland, and were in their 40s or 50s, Mr. Wafa said. “They were inside a taxi and we have no idea as of now what they were doing in downtown Herat city,” he said.
A spate of shootings of foreign nationals occurred earlier this year before Afghanistan’s elections, causing many organizations to curtail the movements of foreign staff members. A spate of shootings of foreign citizens occurred earlier this year before Afghanistan held elections, causing many organizations to curtail the movements of foreign staff members.
The International Assistance Mission, known as I.A.M., has been operating in Afghanistan since the 1960s, running an eye hospital and offering orthopedic services, as well as offering assistance programs for the poor. Its expatriate staff are often well assimilated in Afghanistan, learn the local languages, and live quietly with their families in Afghan communities.
In 2010, members of a 10-member I.A.M. team conducting a mobile eye clinic in remote areas of Nuristan Province were ambushed and killed by gunmen.