We condemn the attack on aid workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross in northern Afghanistan in no uncertain terms. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims.

These humanitarian aid workers are in the country in order to help supply the people in Afghanistan with basic essentials during the cold winter months. They are offering the Afghan people great assistance under the most difficult of circumstances. The fact that they are being turned into targets is a reflection of the terrorists’ inhuman mindset. There can be no justification for this violence.

The understandable decision taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross to suspend its work in Afghanistan will not make civilian reconstruction and humanitarian support for the people in the country any easier for the international community. This is the responsibility of the perpetrators who carry out such perfidious crimes. We would like to offer the International Committee of the Red Cross our most sincere condolences in a spirit of solidarity.