[Stoves] FW: Uganda update - Copy of Ken Goyer's note to Dan Wolf

[Warren Goyer]

Ken Goyer posting from Uganda:

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Dear Dan, Thanks for the news. I'm very sorry for this tragic loss. Our work
should continue however. I am now here in Kampala with Mathew and VJ and
anticipating leaving for Turkey on Monday. I will write more on what has
happened here in Uganda, but for now I wanted to say that this tragedy
shouldn't change our project unless the RI staff in Sudan believe that the
risks have increased to the point that it is foolish to continue. I worry
most about vehicle accidents. As I have never flown a helicopter, I think
about the nut holding on the rotor blade, but I imagine that it is safe.

See you in Darfur,

Much love to all, Ken

dwolf at lifelinefund.org wrote:

Dear Mathew, VJ and Ken,

I have just reveived this email from Elizabeth Ross at Relief
International. Tragically, one of their staff members was killed in El
Fasher. Obviously, this highlights the risks that working in Darfur
entails.

I do not know the circumstances surrounding this killing or how it is
going to effect RI's operation in Darfur. Assuming RI continues to
believe that the environment is safe enough for them to continue their
operations (which it appears they do), I am prepared to go ahead with our
program as well. (Without at all discounting the risks, I should note my
belief that the situation is significantly more dangerous for Sudanese aid
workers than it is for international staff.)

Regardless, anyone who does go to Darfur needs to be cognizant of the
risks and should take all prudent steps to minimize them when there. Most
importantly, this means avoiding travel to remote camps that are avoided
or only rarely visited by other NGOs for security reasons. Given the
nature of our project, I think we will be able to do a good deal of work
with relatively low security risk, since (1) much of the NGO training can
take place in the provincial capitals, and (2) most of the larger stove
programs are in camps (e.g., Kalma, Zam Zam, Kass, etc.), which are nearby
to those capitals or other large towns and which have a significant NGO
presence.

Anyway, those are my preliminary thoughts subject to getting more
information from RI. If any of you have any other recent informmation
regarding the security situation in Darfur or further thoughts about the
issue, please share them with me.

By the way, Mathew, can you let me know what would be the cost and
availability of BA tickets from DC to Khartoum would be in mid-August, as
well as a return ticket to DC from either Kampala or dar Salam in late
September?

Warm regards to all,

Dan


---------------------------- 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

 

Relief International Aid Worker Killed in Sudan's North Darfur

 

Los Angeles, CA / Darfur, Sudan - A relief worker with the U.S.-based global
humanitarian organization Relief International (RI) was killed Wednesday as
a result of an armed attack on a Relief International vehicle. 

 

Hassan Ahmad Idris, a Sudanese agricultural officer, was one of two national
staff who, along with a driver, were on a regular field mission in the state
of North Darfur when their vehicle was stopped by armed robbers.  Idris, 23,
was shot by the assailants and died immediately. One of the robbers has been
arrested and is in police custody.

 

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic news," says Dr. Farshad Rastegar, CEO
of Relief International.  "Hassan Idris was a dedicated humanitarian and a
hardworking staff member who was greatly loved and respected by all his
colleagues.  As a key member of RI's livelihoods program, he was
instrumental in helping displaced Darfurians in the most remote areas regain
access to food and economic security."

 

With more than 100 staff members working in Darfur, Relief International is
a major provider of primary health, reproductive health, food security,
livelihoods and protection services in Darfur to over 350,000 vulnerable and
displaced civilians.  Relief International has temporarily suspended
operations in the Kebkabiya region where the incident took place while it
reviews the security conditions in the area.  Relief International is
continuing programs in other regions and remains committed to delivering
essential humanitarian services in Darfur to assist civilians who have been
affected by the conflict.

 

ABOUT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL

RI is a humanitarian non-profit agency that provides emergency relief,
rehabilitation, and development assistance and program services to
vulnerable communities worldwide. RI focuses on bridging emergency relief to
development through transitional, cross-sectoral and integrated programs. RI
is solely dedicated to reducing human suffering and is non-political and
non-sectarian in its mission.  RI has branch offices in the UK, Japan,
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Israel, Jordan, Niger, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories and other
countries.  www.ri.org <http://www.ri.org/>  

 

 

Contact:

Carrie Greenberg

Communications Director, Relief International

Phone: 310.478.1200; Fax: 310.478.1212

carrie at ri.org <mailto:norris at ri.org>