UN mission 'outraged' at killing of hostages in central Afghanistan
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 26 October 2016 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, UN mission 'outraged' at killing of hostages in central Afghanistan, 26 October 2016, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/5823376940c.html [accessed 23 January 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
26 October 2016 - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned the killing of 26 civilians who were earlier taken hostage by a group of armed men in country's central Ghor province.
"I am outraged by these senseless and brutal killings," the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the acting head of UNAMA, Pernille Kardel, said in a news release today.
"This is an atrocity and the perpetrators must be held accountable," she added.
According to the Mission, the assailants deliberately shot and killed the civilians - all men - in the Ghalmin area of Chaghcharan district in Ghor, a province in central Afghanistan. Those killed were among a group of individuals who were taken hostage, earlier the same day, while collecting firewood in the Kasi area of Firozokh, also in Ghor province.
Attributing reports, UNAMA said that the killings could have been in retaliation for the death of a commander of that armed group in fighting with Afghan National Security Forces.
The fate of the other hostages remains unknown.
Further in the news release, UNAMA underscored that killing of civilians or taking them hostage are serious violations of international humanitarian law that all parties to an armed conflict, including anti-Government elements are required to uphold.
It called for an unconditional release of any remaining hostages.
