New York, NY 13 Aug 2008 - The International Rescue Committee has released the names of its four staff members who were tragically killed in an ambush Wednesday morning in Logar Province, Afghanistan. They are:
Mohammad Aimal, 25, of Kabul, Afghanistan. He had worked as a driver for the International Rescue Committee since 2002.
Shirley Case, 30, of Williams Lake, British Columbia. She joined the IRC on June 8 in Afghanistan to manage education programs designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
Nicole Dial, 30, a dual citizen of Trinidad and the United States. Her permanent residence was in Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. She joined the IRC May 21 in Afghanistan as a coordinator in the agency’s programs for children.
Jacqueline (Jackie) Kirk, Ph.D., 40, of Outremont, Quebec, a dual citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom. An education-programs technical advisor, she had worked for the IRC since 2004. She provided support for the agency’s children’s education programs worldwide.
A second Afghan driver employed by the IRC was seriously wounded in the attack and has been hospitalized.
The victims were en route to Kabul and traveling in a clearly marked International Rescue Committee vehicle when they came under fire at mid-morning.
“We are stunned and profoundly saddened by this tragic loss,” said George Rupp, president of the International Rescue Committee. “These extraordinary individuals were deeply committed to aiding the people of Afghanistan, especially the children who have seen so much strife. Words are inadequate to express our sympathy for the families and loved ones of the victims and our devoted team of humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan.”
The IRC has been working in Afghanistan for 20 years, providing lifesaving aid and recovery assistance to the Afghan people. As of July, the staff comprised 531 Afghans and 11 expatriates.
The IRC has suspended operations in Afghanistan indefinitely.
The agency carries out humanitarian relief and development programs in 42 countries and operates a network of refugee resettlement offices in 24 cities in the United States. It has headquarters in New York, London, Brussels and Geneva.
Learn More
IRC Statement: Four International Rescue Committee Aid Workers Killed in Afghanistan
Other Statements: Official Responses from the Humanitarian Community
Media Contact: Melissa Winkler — 1+646-734-0305
