The humanitarian aid group that lost four of its workers in Afghanistan on Wednesday is focusing on the safety of its remaining staff as leaders decide what to do next.
On Wednesday three foreign workers with the International Rescue Committee, including two Canadians, were killed by militants in Logar province while en route to Kabul. Their Afghan driver was also killed and another Afghan worker was critically wounded.
Michael Kocher, vice-president of international programs for the New York-based IRC, told CTV's Canada AM the group has put its work in Afghanistan on hold but no permanent decisions have been made.
"We have not in fact decided to pull out of Afghanistan," Kocher said.
"We have temporarily and indefinitely suspended operations there, foremost out of respect and sheer grief for the families. And also obviously to protect the security of our remaining staff and to reassess what we might be able to do going forward."
The group has 12 foreign workers remaining in Kabul, as well as 530 Afghan staff members.
Kocher said the organization works in conflict zones around the world and staff security is always a top priority. He said the organization has not received any specific threats.
"Our staff currently are safe, as safe as they can be, and we are talking to communities, government officials, others on how we might be able to go forward. But we have made no decisions now," he said.
Kocher called the Wednesday attack cowardly and reprehensible and said the victims were working on educational programs for Afghan children when they were gunned down by armed militants.
They were travelling in a clearly marked IRC vehicle when the militants fired on them from a village in a rural area, leaving their vehicle riddled with bullet holes.
"Right now we offer our deepest condolences. Truly I don't have words to express our grief at the loss to these families," he said.
Three of the victims' names have been released by the IRC:
- Jacqueline Kirk, 40, of Montreal
- Shirley Case, 30, of 100 Mile House, B.C.
- Nicole Dial, 32, an American-Trinidadian
- Mohammad Aimal, 25, the Afghan driver
A second, 30-year-old Afghan driver was critically wounded and is currently in hospital.
Alan Bell, an international security expert, told Canada AM that aid organizations working in conflict zones often find themselves between a rock and a hard place. They often wish to remain independent of government, police and security forces, and as a result often travel without protection.
But by doing so they expose themselves to danger.
"That's a very naive approach," Bell said. "They do need security and unfortunately it's a fact of life and those that aren't providing security for their workers, they're paying the price now."
Details on victims
Kirk was born in Britain. She had arrived to the area to provide technical assistance but wasn't permanently based in Afghanistan, said Kocher.
Her husband, Andrew Kirk, told 麻豆影视net that his wife "cared so much for the children's futures in Afghanistan."
"She was incredibly motivated, she really cared about the children in the world who can't get an education because of conflict."
The couple moved to Canada in 1996.
Kirk said he and his wife spoke of the danger in Afghanistan before she went to the war-torn country.
"She always felt she was quite safe there," he said. "We believed it was risky but the risks were managed."
Kirk said the IRC always took the proper precautions to keep its workers safe.
Jacqueline Kirk had been an education program advisor for the IRC since July of 2007 and had been involved with the organization for years. She first went to Afghanistan in 2004 and had been back several times.
Case arrived in Afghanistan on June 8. She managed education programs for children with disabilities.
Dial arrived just a few months ago. Kocher said they were experienced in their field of work, having worked in other parts of the world.
The slain Afghan driver had worked with the IRC for five years.
