Aid workers now face greater risk of attack

THE recent tragic events in which the Plan International programme office in Mansehra, Pakistan, was attacked by gunmen killing four aid workers and critically injuring another underlines once again the hazards that are toofrequently encountered in delivering aid programmes in a world where there are far too many guns.

Aid work by its very nature often takes place in inhospitable regions, but it is a sad fact that in recent years intentional violence accounts for far more aid worker deaths than accidents or illness and local aid workers are more likely to be targeted than their ex-pat colleagues.

It may seem that attacks on aid workers are becoming more common, but this has to be seen in the context that there are almost twice as many people working on aid programmes today than there were 10 years ago.

At this stage it is not known who carried out this attack, or what theirmotivation was, but I would like publicly to express my profound sorrow and regret at such a senseless loss of life.

I would also like to assure the people who sponsor children in Mansehra that all of them are safe and sound.

David Dalton

CEO

Plan Ireland

126 Baggot Street

Dublin 2