Press Release: Commission condemns murder of NGO staff in Afghanistan

The European Commission strongly condemned the murder in Eastern Afghanistan of two national staff members of the German NGO, Malteser Hilfsdienst, who were on a mission to provide basic assistance to vulnerable rural people. These latest killings are further evidence that aid workers are being deliberately targeted by groups with no respect for the humanitarian principles that would normally provide some protection to aid workers in conflict situations. The insecurity is compounded by certain practices of elements of the Coalition forces that contribute to a blurring of the distinction between humanitarian and military personnel, and undermine the perception that humanitarian workers are neutral and impartial.