UN condemns the murder of British aid worker Linda Norgrove

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UN condemns the murder of British aid worker Linda Norgrove

2010-10-10 17:50:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON/KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations on Sunday condemned the murder of a British aid worker who was kidnapped in northeastern Afghanistan and was killed during a failed rescue attempt on Friday evening.

Robert Watkins, the UN's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, said the humanitarian and development community in Afghanistan has learnt of Norgrove's death with great sadness. "Her death is also a tragedy and loss to the people of Afghanistan whom she served with dedication and passion," Watkins said.

Linda Norgrove, 36, originally from Scotland, was kidnapped along with three of her colleagues in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province on September 26 after they were ambush. Her colleagues were soon safely released.

But on Saturday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague confirmed that a NATO operation was initiated on Friday evening after information about where Linda was being held was received. "We decided that, given the danger she was facing, her best chance of safe release was to act on that information," Hague said.

However, during the course of the rescue attempt, her captors killed Norgrove. "Responsibility for this tragic outcome rests squarely with the hostage takers," Hague added. "From the moment they took her, her life was under grave threat. Given who held her, and the danger she was in, we judged that Linda’s best chance lay in attempting to rescue her."

Watkins said Norgrove had a genuine interest in Afghanistan and traveled extensively to build lasting friendships with her international and Afghan colleagues. "She was a true advocate for the people of Afghanistan and was dedicated to bringing improvements to their lives - one of the reasons she chose to return to Afghanistan in January of this year," he added. "Her spirit and compassion will be greatly missed."

Norgrove was working with Development Alternatives Inc (DAI) at the time of her death, an organization that aims to create jobs, boost local economies, and strengthen local Afghan leadership in unstable and vulnerable areas. It is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Previously, from 2005 to 2008, Norgrove worked in Afghanistan for the United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Office for Project Services on bio-diversity conservation issues and road projects, among others.

DAI President and CEO James Boomgard on Saturday called the failed rescue attempt devastating news. "Our first thoughts at this moment are with Linda’s immediate family: her parents, John and Lorna, and her sister Sofie," he said. "On behalf of all DAI employees, I extend to them our heartfelt condolences for their terrible loss."

Boomgard said Norgrove was a wonderful woman whose sole purpose in Afghanistan was to do good and to help the Afghan people to achieve a measure of prosperity and stability in their everyday lives. "Linda loved Afghanistan and cared deeply for its people, and she was deeply committed to her development mission," Boomgard added. "She was an inspiration to many of us here at DAI and she will be deeply missed."

Norgrove spent most of her adult life working for and managing projects in developing countries, mostly projects that help farmers and rural workers build sustainable livelihoods while protecting the environment, DAI said.

As of February, Norgrove was based in Jalalabad and worked for DAI as their Regional Director. She worked together with more than 200 Afghan professionals and collaborated with the relevant Afghan Ministries.

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