Five people working for WFP have now been confirmed dead after what local police are describing as a suicide bomb attack at the WFP offices in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The attack took place at 12:15 local time. A number of injured – some of whom are in a critical condition – are being treated in hospital.
"I wish to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of those dedicated WFP staff members who were killed or injured in this terrible attack," said WFP Executive Director, Josette Sheeran.
"All of the victims were humanitarian heroes working on the frontlines of hunger in a country where WFP food assistance is providing a lifeline to millions. This is a tragedy – not just for WFP – but for the whole humanitarian community and for the hungry."
Those who died in the attack have been named as:
Mr. Mohamed Wahab, (Pakistani) Finance Assistant
Mr. Botan Ahmed Ali Al-Hayawi, (Iraqi) Information and Communication Technology Officer
Mr. Abid Rehman, (Pakistani) Senior Finance Assistant
Ms. Gulrukh Tahir, (Pakistani) Receptionist
Ms. Farzana Barkat, (Pakistani) Office Assistant
WFP is providing vital food assistance to as many as 10 million people across Pakistan, including emergency relief to as many as 2 million Pakistani civilians who were displaced by conflict in the Swat Valley region earlier this year. WFP also supports school meal programmes and targets food assistance at vulnerable groups of people across the country.
For more information please contact:
Greg Barrow, WFP/Rome, Tel. +39 06 6513 2330, Mob. + 39 348 132 5018
Jennifer Parmelee, WFP/Washington, Tel. + 1 202 653 1149, Mob. +1 202 422 3383
Bettina Luescher, WFP/New York, Tel. + 1 212 9635196, Mob. +1 646 824 1112
Caroline Hurford, WFP/London, Tel. +44-2-07240-9001, Mob. + 44-7968-008474
Ralf Suedhoff, WFP/Berlin, Tel. +49 302 0614 912, Mob. +49 160 949 12547
Tamara Kummer, WFP/Paris, Tel. +33 1 55073 242, Mob. +33 6751 79660
Emilia Casella, WFP/Geneva, Tel. +41-22-9178564, Mob. +41-79285-7304
