Fairfield-Based Save The Children Offices Attacked In Afghanistan

FAIRFIELD, CT — A fourth staff member of Fairfield-based Save the Children is confirmed to have been killed in yesterday’s attack at its office in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, the organization announced in an update on Thursday. Officials said the identity of the victim, a young man in his 20s, was confirmed Thursday during the second in-depth sweep of the building.

“This news comes as our staff struggle to come to terms with news that three colleagues were killed yesterday,” the organization said in a statement. “This incident was a senseless and malicious act of violence which has devastated the families of those who lost loved ones in the attack as well as colleagues across our organization. Incidents like this have a direct impact on the children and communities we work to protect and yesterday programs across the country were brought to a halt. Our humanitarian staff remain dedicated to resuming operations, and have already taken first steps to do so, carrying out critical safety and security assessments across the areas we work.”

Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, said on Wednesday that all other staff were rescued from the office and four were injured in the attack and are receiving medical treatment.

NPR.org reports that ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, in which gunmen stormed the offices and explosives were also included in the assault. An initial blast in the attack was caused by a suicide car bomber, according to Afghanistan's Tolo news service. Local officials in Jalalabad said at least 14 people were hurt in the attack and were evacuated to the regional hospital, NPR reports.

“Save the Children condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms,” Miles said in a statement on Wednesday. "We are shocked and appalled at the violence, carried out against our staff in Afghanistan who are dedicated humanitarians, committed to improving the lives and wellbeing of millions of children across the country. We are doing everything we can to ensure all of our staff get the support they need in the aftermath of this devastating incident.

“Investigations into the nature of the attack are ongoing and the motive cannot yet be confirmed. Attacks against aid workers must never be tolerated and have a direct impact on the children we work to protect.

“Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976 providing life-saving health, education, nutrition and child protection programs that have helped millions of children. We have temporarily suspended our operations across the country following today’s events, however we remain fully committed to helping the most deprived children of Afghanistan.”

Pictured: Vehicles burn after a deadly suicide attack in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor said a group of gunmen stormed the office of the non-governmental organization, Save the Children / Associated Press