Solidarity for Afghanistan

At 9.50pm local time on June 8, 10 HALO staff were killed and 16 injured in a devastating attack by an unknown armed group at a demining camp in the Baghlan Province of Afghanistan.

We have been overwhelmed by the messages of condolence that we have received from HALO's friends, partners and supporters around the world. We are honored to be able share these tributes with you.

Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation

I strongly condemn the horrific attack on The HALO Trust deminers in Baghlan. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and colleagues. The emerging ethnic dimension of such crimes is shocking. A professional investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

David Miliband, President and CEO of IRC

Shocked to hear the terrible news of the deaths of 10 HALO aid workers earlier today in Afghanistan. Their work clearing mines has spared thousands of lives and livelihoods worldwide, especially in the world's toughest conflict zones. Humanitarians are not – and should never be – a target. This is a tragic testament to the dangers aid workers face and the urgent imperative to protect them, especially in an age where international humanitarian law is also under attack.

German Embassy in Afghanistan

We are deeply shocked and dismayed by the heinous and cowardly attack against The HALO Trust deminers in Baghlan province. This was an attack not only against innocent civilians, but also against brave people who work for all Afghans, reducing the danger mines pose to citizens in many parts of the country. We strongly believe in their work: Germany is a major supporter of humanitarian demining globally and of The HALO Trust in Afghanistan. Our hearts are with the injured and the grieving families of the deceased.

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General

We strongly condemn the heinous attack on The HALO Trust NGO that took place in Baghlan-e-Markazi district in Northern Afghanistan and that attack killed 10 people and injured 16 others. The HALO Trust has a strong global partnership with the United Nations and operations to clear landmines and other explosives and to better the lives of vulnerable people. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a full and speedy recovery to the injured.

Dr Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive, Oxfam GB

On behalf of colleagues across the Oxfam confederation, I wanted to convey our deepest condolences to you and all at The HALO Trust. The scale and nature of the attack on your colleagues is truly horrendous, and I cannot even imagine the devastating impact this will have on the families and colleagues of those who were killed or injured. The attack comes at a time when humanitarians across the world seem to be under greater threat. I hope you and colleagues take some solace in the fact that your work is so important and timely.

Matthew Wyatt, FCDO

My colleagues in HMD's demining team and I were deeply shocked to learn of the horrific and tragic events in Baghlan yesterday. Our thoughts are with you, your team and the families of those killed and injured.

Cindy McCain

Please pray for these wonderful humanitarians who were killed freeing the land in Afghanistan of the scourge of landmines.

JJ Chalmers

My thoughts go out to everyone at The HALO Trust, an organization that I've witnessed the incredible work of first hand. This is abhorrent – they are apolitical, they do not take sides but they carry out courageous work for the benefit of humanity.

Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council

Mine clearance is vital for the survival and rebirth of war-torn societies. The killing of humanitarian mine clearance staff is a heinous crime. We are mourning with our colleagues in the vitally important HALO Trust.

Professor Roger Mullin

On behalf of REVIVE Campaign our thoughts are with all those HALO workers, working to remove deadly landmines in Afghanistan who have been mercilessly shot and left to die.

Greenpeace

We stand in solidarity with people and organizations trying to make the world a safer place for us all in dangerous environments. Our heartfelt condolences to the families and everyone at The HALO Trust humanitarian mine clearance organisation for this senseless loss of life.

Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

MAG is devastated to learn of this horrific incident. Our thoughts are with the victims' friends and families and our friends and colleagues at The HALO Trust. Humanitarian aid workers are not a target; they will be remembered as heroes.

John Pearson, UK Ambassador to Laos

Such awful news. The HALO Trust does fantastic work in clearing unexploded mines and bombs around the world – including in Laos. It is terrible they have been targeted like this.

Ziaulhaq Amarkhil, Governor of Nangarhar

We appreciate the lasting services of The HALO Trust in Afghanistan. Feel so sad about horrific incident at Baghlan taking lives of innocent deminers and HALO staff. We condemn targeting Hazaras and believe in the unity of ethnicities. Criminals don't represent Afghans, we stay strong against them.

Amina J Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General

I am appalled by the attack and killing of deminers from The HALO Trust in northern Afghanistan, who dedicated their lives to saving others. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Humanitarians are not a target.

Save the Children International

Save the Children stands by The HALO Trust at this tragic time. An attack on aid workers is an attack on all of us and the children and communities we work with. Our sincere condolences to HALO, families, friends and colleagues. Humanitarian workers are not a target.

Peter Mollema, Netherlands MFA

I'm horrified by the attack on HALO aid workers, people working for a safer Afghan society. As a partner of The HALO Trust, the Netherlands stands in solidarity with HALO in this time of mourning. My sincere condolences go out to all HALO workers and the victims’ families.

David Loyn

HALO is not abandoning Afghanistan. "Under the bludgeoning of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed."

António Vitorino, Director General of IOM

I condemn in the strongest possible terms the murders of 10 HALO deminers, men who put their lives on the line daily for the people of Afghanistan. My deepest condolences to the families and friends of these brave men whose lives were taken in the service of their country.

World Vision

Humanitarians, and the children, families and communities they serve, have the right to live and work in peace. Yesterday morning this right was violated with the loss of our colleagues in The HALO Trust. We are dismayed and saddened for the victims, their families, and the terror inflicted on the survivors.  We send condolences and pray for our brothers and sisters from The HALO Trust and the families of the deceased at this utterly tragic time.

Steve Goose, ICBL-CMC Governance Board Chair

Such an attack on a humanitarian mine action team working to build safe communities is reprehensible. We honor the work of The HALO Trust and its team members, in seeking to achieve a mine-free Afghanistan and condemn this attack, and any attack on civilians and humanitarian workers as a violation of international humanitarian law.

United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan

The UN in Afghanistan condemns the deeply shocking attack on HALO, humanitarians dedicated to protect all people from the serious threat posed by mines. Our thoughts are with the families who are grieving and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. All those parties claiming to desire peace for the Afghan people need to demonstrate concrete action to support their claims and put an end to the terrible crimes such as witnessed in Baghlan.

Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International South Asia

All who died were members of communities, they were family members and they were serving for a cause. What a sensible messaging, more strength to The HALO Trust. Thank you for your services. Thank you for not giving up on Afghanistan.

Jessica Hand, UK Ambassador to Angola

Deepest condolences to The HALO Trust family, and especially to the bereaved families. A callous and brutal attack on those trying to make their country safer.

Marjolijn van Deelen, EU Special Envoy for Non-proliferation and Disarmament

We are shocked by the brutality of this act. This is heartbreaking news, may they rest in peace. Our condolences to the families and everyone at HALO, humanitarian mine clearance organization. Violence must stop and peace talks move forward to substantial negotiations.

Ross L. Wilson, United States Ambassador to Afghanistan

Mine clearers are the bravest of the brave and they risk their lives to make Afghanistan a safe place for all people. We condemn this attack in the strongest terms.

Ambassador von Brandt, EU in Afghanistan

I strongly condemn the brutal killing of 10 and injuring of 16 HALO Trust demining experts. Our thoughts are with the families. Mines are inhumane and demining means peace-building and development for Afghanistan.

Charlotte Slente, Secretary-General, Danish Refugee Council

We stand with you now, publicly and vocally. Demining has had widespread support: across Afghanistan and across parties to conflict. And rightly so. It benefits all - removing as it does the risk to life and livelihoods of a terrible, indiscriminate and outlawed weapon.

Demining is life-saving humanitarian work and yesterday's attack is an attack on us all. Whatever its motivation, it is unjustifiable: we decry those that carried it out, and we will continue to underline that violence against humanitarian workers is unacceptable. My thoughts are with HALO at this very difficult time.

Christophe Cox , CEO APOPO

On behalf of everyone working for APOPO, we would like to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to The HALO Trust, especially your teams in Afghanistan. Our thoughts are with the victims' friends and families and the whole organization. APOPO stands in solidarity with The HALO Trust, and we wish you the strength and support needed to deal with this tragic, sad loss and the resulting aftermath. We also commend your decision to continue the humanitarian mission of your work.

Lucy Blythe

Humanitarians, helping others. Life is not fair. My sympathies are with the families of those lost, and with all the The HALO Trust colleagues. Keep up the brave work.

Jean-Francois Riffaud, DG - CEO Action Contre la Faim

My sincere condolences and entire support to The HALO Trust colleagues whose work is so indispensable in Afghanistan and everywhere else you are engaged. We stand next to you. Protect aid workers they are not a target.

Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention

Our deepest condolences to The HALO Trust family and all Afghanistan citizens that have to endure time again, these acts of violence. Our thoughts are with the families of those deceased and injured. It is a sad day for the mine action community.

Sanna Johnson, Acting VP, IRC – International Rescue Committee

We condemn the shocking June 8 attack on The HALO Trust aid workers in Baghlan province, Afghanistan, in which 10 humanitarians were killed and 16 others injured. Our colleagues at The HALO Trust have suffered a grievous loss, and our thoughts are with the families, friends and co-workers of the victims.

Melanie Robinson, UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Shocked to hear of the attack last night on The HALO Trust deminers in Afghanistan. Condolences to the families and colleagues of those who were killed and injured. The HALO Trust deminers have done life-saving work in Zimbabwe as well.

UN OCHA

We strongly condemn Tuesday's heinous attack in Afghanistan against The HALO Trust, a NGO that works to clear landmines and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Humanitarian workers are not a target.

Valon Kumnova, Chief, Mine Action Programmes, GICHD

I read with great sadness the news this morning of the attack on the HALO camp last night that killed 10 and injured 16 HALO staff in Baghlan. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with those that passed away and with the HALO family.

Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) Mine Action and Disarmament

NPA is shocked, outraged and devastated by the horrific attack on The HALO Trust staff in Afghanistan. Our condolences to all families, friends and colleagues affected. This is a sad day for all of us. Humanitarian workers are not a target. Never.

Chris Law, MP for Dundee West

Terrible and heartbreaking news. Their live-saving work is vital and it’s devastating when these horrendous actions happen. My heart goes out to all those who've lost their lives or are injured, their families and friends.

Douglas Alexander, former MP

Horrified to read this news. I have seen for myself on the ground in Afghanistan the painstaking, brave, lifesaving work done by The HALO Trust. My deepest condolences to all those affected by this horrific attack on these selfless humanitarian workers.

Rob Gabrielse

As President of the Mine Ban Treaty, I am deeply shocked to learn about the horrific attack on a demining team. The Netherlands stands in solidarity with our partner The HALO Trust and my sincere condolences go out to all HALO workers, the victims and the people of Afghanistan.

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Heartfelt condolences to The HALO Trust and to the families and colleagues of their murdered staff. Another tragic reminder of Afghanistan's accelerating slide into irreversible insecurity. The hand wringing and recriminations likely to follow won’t help save lives. 

UN Peacekeeping

We are saddened to learn of the fatal attack against deminers who risk their lives so that local populations can live theirs free from fear and dangers that remnants of war impose on entire communities. UN Peacekeepers and UNMAS stand in solidarity with The HALO Trust.

EU in Ukraine

We would like to express our deepest condolences to our partner organisation The HALO Trust in the face of this heartbreaking news. Our thoughts are with the injured staff and the families of those killed in this heinous attack.

Theo Clarke, MP for Stafford

Such devastating news from The HALO Trust. This is truly horrific. My thoughts are with those affected and I send my condolences to the families of those whose lives were lost.

Amanda Gorely, Australia's Ambassador for Arms Control

Australia strongly condemns the appalling attack on The HALO Trust mine clearance workers in Afghanistan, working to alleviate the suffering caused by mines – humanitarian workers are not a target.

Dr Ramiz Alakbarov, United Nations DSRSG, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator

I strongly condemn the heinous attack on The HALO Trust NGO in Baghlan Province in northern Afghanistan which killed at least 10 people and injured 16 others. It is repugnant that an organization that works to clear landmines and other explosives and better the lives of vulnerable people could be targeted. I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes for a speedy and full recovery to the injured.