ADDIS ABABA - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today confirmed the death of one of its staff members in a fatal attack in Ethiopia. "I am deeply saddened by this deplorable killing,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. “This is the second deadly attack on a WFP humanitarian worker in less than a month.”
Farhan Hamsa – a WFP driver - was killed in an ambush on 13 May by unknown assailants in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. He was on a monitoring mission with three colleagues when the vehicles they were travelling in were attacked.
One other WFP staff member was injured in the attack and two remain missing. WFP urges anyone in the vicinity of this incident who has knowledge of the whereabouts of the staff members to contact WFP so that they can be brought home safely to their families and loved ones.
“Humanitarian workers need and deserve the protection of all as they seek to protect the vulnerable and save innocent lives,” Sheeran said. “We call upon the world to join us in condemning such actions as the killing of Farhan. Every day WFP drivers like Farhan deliver life-saving help to the most vulnerable under conditions of great danger and hardship. They are my heroes.”
Farhan had worked for WFP in the Jijiga sub-office in the Somali Region since 2006. He leaves behind a wife and seven children.
WFP provides food assistance to 4.5 million people in Ethiopia, including refugees and school children in highly food insecure areas.
The fatality in Ethiopia follows the killing of WFP Senior Programme Assistant, Santino Pigga Alex Wani in Southern Sudan last month. He was killed in an ambush on 22 April by unknown assailants in Jonglei State. Santino was on mission with WFP’s partner Joint Aid Management when the vehicle they were travelling in was attacked.