Gunmen in Afghanistan have killed at least 10 humanitarian workers clearing landmines and injured 16 others at a demining camp
Workers for The Halo Trust, which has its global headquarters in Dumfries, were murdered in an attack on Tuesday June 8 at 9.50pm local time.
The charity has been left horrified after an unknown armed group entered a camp in the Baghlan Province of Afghanistan and opened fire.
They strongly condemned the attack on their staff and said they were now focusing on caring for those injured and supporting the families affected.
Around 110 men from local communities were also in the camp after finishing their work on nearby minefields.
A statement from The Halo Trust said: “At 21:50 local time on June 8, ten HALO staff were killed and 16 injured by an unknown armed group at a demining camp in the Baghlan Province of Afghanistan.
“The group entered the camp and opened fire. Around 110 men, from local communities in northern Afghanistan, were in the camp having finished their work on nearby minefields.
“HALO is a humanitarian mine clearance organisation that has been destroying explosive items in Afghanistan since 1988.
“We strongly condemn the attack on our staff, who were carrying out humanitarian work to save lives.
“We are focussed now on care of the injured staff and supporting the families affected.”
The charity works to create safe and secure environments in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities and has been destroying explosive items in Afghanistan since 1988.
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