Glass Half Full, Glass Half Empty

Published March 18, 2009 @ 12:02PM PT

Just to continue today's theme on aid worker security, some good news and some not-so-good news of late.

First, the good news. Four UN staff kidnapped in Somalia on Monday were released unharmed that same evening.

Now the not-so-good news. An aid worker with CARE was killed in Sri Lanka yesterday. Mr. R. Sabesan was in the "no-fire zone" established by the Sri Lankan military when he was hit by artillery; he later died of his injuries.

As Patronus Analytical points out, Mr. Sabesan is the second aid worker killed by artillery fire in northern Sri Lanka this month.

In addition, a Peace Corps volunteer was murdered in Benin earlier this month.

As for statistics on aid worker fatalities so far in 2009:

- In Gaza, five UNRWA staff, three UNRWA contractors, and one WFP contractor have been killed since December 27th, with another four staff and six contractors injured. In addition, one aid worker with CARE has also been killed, as have thirteen medical personnel.

- Four aid workers have been killed in Sri Lanka, including two in February and two in March

- Three aid workers have been killed in Mozambique

- Two aid workers have been killed in Somalia

- Two aid workers have been killed in Pakistan

- Two aid workers were killed in Sri Lanka in February, a third aid worker was killed there in March

- Two aid workers have been killed in Darfur

- Two aid workers have been killed in Afghanistan (ANSO report #20, covering February 16th - 28th, 2009)

- One aid worker has been killed in Benin

This is by no means a comprehensive list.

[One of the MSF staff released after being kidnapped in Darfur - Photo from AP / Nasser Nasser]

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Comments (1)

It is saddening to note another aid worker from CARE was killed in the 'no fire zone' established by Sri Lanka.

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to each members of NGOs working in countries like Sudan and Sri Lanka.
Mrs. Sandy Vadi
New Hamburg

Posted by Mrs. Sandy Vadi on 03/18/2009 @ 12:49PM PT
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Michael has worked for NGOs in Afghanistan, across east and central Africa, and Iraq. Prior to going overseas, he worked on a project providing assistance to the United Nations on the application of International Humanitarian Law to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.