ALGERIA: UN workers wounded in Algiers car bombings tell senior UN official of their experiences

Record ID: 573512

  • Title: ALGERIA: UN workers wounded in Algiers car bombings tell senior UN official of their experiences
  • Date: 14th December 2007
  • Summary: (BN13) ALGIERS, ALGERIA (DECEMBER 13, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KEMAL DERVIS, HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP) AND MARC DE BERNIS, HEAD OF THE UNDP ALGERIA VISITING WOUNDED IN MUSTAPHA BACHA HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF PLANS OF KEMAL DERVIS AND MARC DE BERNIS LEAVING THE HOSPITAL. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KEMAL DERVIS, HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP), SAYING: "This is a terrible tragedy and yet at the same time those we lost, those who died and then some were lucky and are surviving and of course we're glad that there are survivors and I must say the hospitals are doing an excellent job." DERVIS CONSOLING TWO MEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) KEMAL DERVIS, HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP), SAYING: "You know these are not military staff, these are not soldiers, these are development workers. They haven't signed up for battle, they have signed up for development work and so it is our absolute duty as the international community to do our best for their security." DERVIS WALKING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 29th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations,Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVABMORGNYP6SGAJD18RKESLLTL
  • Story Text: Kemal Dervis, head of the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) visited wounded U.N. workers at Mustapha Bacha Hospital in Algiers on Thursday (December 13). Dervis toured the wards with Marc De Bernis, head of the UNDP in Algeria, stopping to speak to survivors of car bombs that exploded on Wednesday (December 12) killing 11 U.N. workers and more than 20 other people in the capital.
    Al Qaeda's North African wing claimed responsibility for the bombs at the U.N. offices and a court building, saying it had targeted what it called "the slaves of America and France".
    The bomber of the U.N. offices was identified by security sources as veteran Algerian Islamist fighter Bechla Rabeh, who was in his 60s.
    Experts say he was selected to combat signs of unease within the armed group over its habitual use of youths -- many of them suspected of being brainwashed or drugged -- as suicide bombers.
    U.N. development worker Naima Silarbi told Dervis that those behind the bombing which destroyed the world body's Algeria office were cowardly. The 34-year-old, her face criss-crossed with scars, said that if you loved your country you built it, you didn't destroy it.
    Silarbi said the U.N. workers worked to reduce poverty, fight disease and help local populations.
    Another U.N. worker, Leila Souilamas, told Dervis she felt lucky to be alive as two floors of the building had fallen on her.
    Dervis said on Thursday the United Nations was boosting security at its offices around the world after Tuesday's attacks, but he said this would need more funding.
    He said the U.N. was talking to the government about a move out of Hydra as part of efforts to improve security.
    He said he had been moved by his visit to the wounded.

    "You know these are not military staff, these are not soldiers, these are development workers. They haven't signed up for battle, they have signed up for development work and so it is our absolute duty as the international community to do our best for their security," said Dervis.
    U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the bombs were "a despicable strike against individuals serving humanity's highest ideals under the U.N. banner" and "an attack on all of us".
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