UNAMA, MACCA condemn killing of Farah de-miners

KABUL (UNAMA) and Mine Action Coordination Centre for Afghanistan (MACCA) condemned the recent killing of four de-miners, according to a statement.

The four killed de-miners were among 32 employees of the Demining Agency for Afghanistan (DAFA) abducted in Farah province on July 6. Unidentified gunmen seized them from Farah’s Bala Baluk district.

Four of the abductees’ bodies were returned to Farah City on Sunday and Monday. The remaining 28 were freed through the mediation of tribal elders.

Zalmay, one of the freed de-miners, said that the Taliban released them to the elders on Sunday. All of them had reached Farah City, the provincial capital, by 10:30 am Monday, July 11.

“MACCA is appalled by this incident and calls on all Afghans to support and respect the efforts being made by their fellow countrymen to clear Afghanistan of landmines and other explosive remnants of war,” said MACCA director Alan Macdonald, according to the statement.

United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Michael Keating said: “Deminers are providing life-saving services to vulnerable Afghans regardless of any political, religious, ethnic or geographical consideration,” according to the statement.

Farah deputy provincial police chief Maj. Khalil blamed the Taliban for the abduction. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi denied Taliban involvement.

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