A News Agency

United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called for the protection of humanitarian workers in a statement marking the anniversary of the Muttur attacks.

“Muttur is not only a tragedy of the past, but also a warning for today,” Fletcher said, stressing that every attack against humanitarian workers must be investigated and those responsible brought to justice.

A United Nations statement recalled that 17 employees of the organization Action Against Hunger, who were working to deliver assistance to local communities following conflict and the devastating tsunami, were killed in Muttur, Sri Lanka, 20 years ago.

It was noted that despite the passage of time, many questions remain unanswered and the families of the victims continue to seek justice.

Fletcher said more than 1,000 humanitarian workers had been killed over the past three years, most of them local and national staff serving their own communities.

Stating that the killing of humanitarian workers affects not only aid operations but also the hopes of communities in need, Fletcher said: “Humanitarian workers must not be targeted; they must be protected.”