Mohammed Hashim, an Afghan national on contract with UN-HABITAT was brutally murdered on 4 March 2006 while undertaking a routine monitoring visit in Farah Province in western Afghanistan. The engineer, was reportedly stopped by armed men, dragged from his vehicle and summarily shot. On receiving the news of the tragic event, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka immediately issued a strong condemnation of the murder of Mr. Hashim, who has been working in the war-torn country as part of UN-HABITAT post-conflict rehabilitation programme. “I have learned with great shock and sadness of the brutal senseless murder of Mohamed Hashim,” said Mrs. Tibaijuka. “His death is a tragic loss for Afghanistan and for UN-HABITAT. It is imperative that the Government of Afghanistan investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice.” “On behalf of UN-HABITAT,” she added, “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Eng. Hashim. It is the courageous work of people like him that is helping to make a difference in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. The sacrifice he has made will not go in vain. Peace and prosperity for the Afghan people, for which he has lost his life, will finally prevail. May God Almighty grant him eternal rest.” Strong condemnation of the attack also came from the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development and the head of the UN-HABITAT’s Afghanistan office Mr. Ian Holland. They described Mr. Hashim as a devoted worker of the National Solidarity Programme in Farah who served the communities in Afghanistan and assisted in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of villages in Bala Buluk District. They expressed their determination to continue their work which reaches far flung communities, promoting national solidarity and advancing the process of rural development in Afghanistan. Hashim will be remembered for his hard work and dedication to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Like many professionals working in hazardous locations, he performed his duties courageously despite the constant threat of physical harm, a threat that has escalated in Afghanistan in recent months. UN-HABITAT is implementing a variety of policy support and capacity-building projects in Afghanistan, including supporting the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development’s flagship development project, the National Solidarity Programme, in eight provinces. Other projects focus on strengthening local governance, promoting human security, strengthening civil society, and promoting strategic urban planning and land management. For further information, please contact: Afghanistan
Mr. Ian Holland
Head of Agency,
UN-HABITAT Afghanistan
Tel: +93-70-279000
Ian.Holland@unhabitat-afg.org Japan
Habitat.fukuoka@unhabitata.org
Tel: +81 92 724 7121
Fax: +81 92 724 7124 Nairobi
Habitat.press@unhabitat.org
Tel: +254 20 7623153/3151
Fax: +254 20 7624060 |
