Statement UNICEF Exec. Director on attacks on aid workers – UNICEF press release

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on recent attacks on aid workers – 16 June 2007

"I am deeply concerned about the number of deadly attacks on aid workers that have occurred over the past week, in the Central African Republic, in Lebanon, in the occupied Palestinian territory and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Any threat to the safety of humanitarian workers around the world is unacceptable.

"These threats and attacks have a double impact. People whose only motive is to help others are being killed and wounded. And as a result, aid that is essential to the survival of millions of civilians, many of them women and children, is often scaled back in the wake of the attacks.

"Every effort must be made to ensure aid workers can carry out their life-saving activities as securely as possible."

About UNICEF

UNICEF works on the ground in over 150 developing and transitional countries to help children survive and thrive. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for poor countries, UNICEF works to advance the Millennium Development Goals by supporting child health and nutrition, quality basic education, access to clean water and sanitation, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and HIV/AIDS.

For further information, please contact:

Rafael Hermoso, UNICEF Media, New York, 1 212 326 – 7516, rhermoso@unicef.org 

Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media, New York, 1 212 326 – 7452, kdonovan@unicef.org

Veronique Taveau, UNICEF Media, Geneva, +41 22 909 5716, vtaveau@unicef.org