Thursday, February 28, 2008

Female Aid Worker Most Likely Murdered in Afghanistan

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I suppose I am as guilty as a good number of people of becoming inured to the news of the horrendous amount of people being killed in the Middle East and Palestine but it is always with sadness when I read of the murder of brave women, far braver than I, that seemingly for altruistic motives alone risk all by venturing to some of the most dangerous places on earth.
I cannot even begin to comprehend the fear and terror that these poor souls would have had to endure before meeting their demise at the hands of these misogynist thugs.



Abducted American female aid worker in Afghanistan killed

KABUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cyd Mizell, an American female worker with a relief organization ARLDF, and her driver, who were kidnapped by unknown militants in southern Afghanistan last month,have been killed, the organization said in a statement issued Wednesday.

"We are deeply grieved to report the apparent deaths of Muhammad Hadi and Cyd Mizell, Asian Rural Life Development Foundation ARLDF) workers who were kidnapped by gunmen Jan. 26 in Kandahar, Afghanistan," said the statement posted on its website.

The organization said it has no confirmation of their deaths, however, adding "we have received information over the past few days indicating that our two aid workers have been killed."

Hadi, a resident of Kandahar, had served as an ARLDF driver for two years and was the father of five children, according to the statement.

Mizell, 50, a native of Eureka, California, had lived in Kandahar where "she taught English to high school students and helped women learn income-producing skills such as sewing and embroidery," it said.

ARLDF said Mizell also assisted in other ARLDF-related efforts in the area, which include food-for-work projects, irrigation, rehabilitation, health care and restoration projects.

Two weeks ago, Mizell's father has called on the unknown kidnappers to release his daughter through a public message.

Kidnappings of foreigners have become a common scene in remote regions especially in southern Afghanistan, where anti-government militants usually launched guerrilla-style attacks on Afghan government and international troops.

Traveling by land in southern Afghanistan has been considered most dangerous especially for foreigners as the past months have seen several kidnappings in the region. source

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