Aid worker shooting in Chad - update 2 May 2008
Following the killing of French national Pascal Marlinge, 49, Save the Children UK's country director in Chad, yesterday (May 1, 2008), we have the following updates:
Friday 2 May 2008
- Save the Children UK has not pulled out of Chad. It has temporarily suspended operations, but staff remain in country at this time.
- The shooting took place on the road from Fachana to Adre - not on the road from Fachana to Hajir Hadid, as originally reported.
- Pascal Marlinge had two daughters, not one, as originally reported.
- At this stage there is no evidence to suggest this was a targeted killing.
- The other two vehicles in the convoy belonged to UNICEF.
- United Nations agencies in Chad have called for a two-day suspension of non-urgent humanitarian operations in Chad in solidarity with the family and colleagues of all victims insecurity in Chad.
Background:
Pascal Marlinge, 49, Save the Children UK's country director in Chad, yesterday (May 1, 2008), was in a three-car convoy with a Save the Children driver and two vehicles UNICEF. They were driving from Farchana to Adre, close to the Sudanese border.
Our information is that at about 10.15am local time the convoy was stopped by a group of armed men. We believe a single shot was fired and Mr Marlinge was killed. The four other humanitarian workers were unhurt.
Mr Marlinge has a wife and two daughters, living in France. Mr Marlinge's body is being repatriated to France at this time.
A Save the Children UK investigation to ascertain the facts regarding the shooting of Mr Marligne is underway.
All Save the Children UK work in Chad has been suspended until further notice.
Save the Children staff in the London head quarters have gathered today for a moment of reflection and solidarity. Save the Children UK's chief executive Jasmine Whitbread said: "All of us here in the UK, in Chad and across the whole Save the Children world-wide alliance have been hit by this tragedy.
"Staff are focusing on their work, investigating the incident, making sure our 120 colleagues in Chad are safe and liaising with the authorities to repatriate Pascal's body to his wife and family.
"But while we all continue to try to quickly stabilise the situation, Pascal's colleagues are feeling deeply upset. Save the Children is a family and this loss has hurt us. Pascal was a highly experienced and professional aid worker. We owe it to him and his memory to maintain the standards he would have set for himself."
Ms Whitbread added: "Our thoughts remain with his wife and daughters. Their loss is great. We will support them as best we can, if they need our help."
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information please contact Dominic Nutt, Head of News, on 07720 467680 or the Save the Children Press Office on 020 7012 6841, or out of hours contact the on-call press officer on 07831 650 409. A low-quality, head and shoulders picture of Mr Marlinge is available on request
