WFP condemns killing of staff member

The UN World Food Programme condemned on Tuesday the killing of a staff member in northern Burundi on 7 November. The WFP employee, Philbert Nsengiyumva, was shot dead at close range by unknown armed men at 11 p.m. at his home in Ngozi town, WFP reported. WFP expressed regret that "such a violent act should be perpetrated against a person engaged in providing urgently needed humanitarian assistance in Burundi". "The security of our staff is paramount," Zlatan Milisic, WFP's country director for Burundi, said. "Such brutality cannot be tolerated, especially because it might compromise our ability to carry out the humanitarian work which is so necessary here." WFP said it had conveyed its condolences to the family of Nsengiyumva, a Burundian national who joined WFP as a driver in March 2001, and who leaves behind a wife and seven children. WFP said that Burundian police were investigating the killing.