Five Emiratis On A Humanitarian Mission In Afghanistan Were Killed In Yesterday’s Blasts
A bomb exploded yesterday in Kandahar, the second largest city in Afghanistan. We reported that Juma Al Kaabi, the UAE ambassador to Afghanistan was injured in the brutal terrorist attacks, which has killed at least 8 and left 18 wounded.
It was reported earlier today that five Emiratis are among the deceased. The men, who were in Afghanistan as part of a UAE humanitarian mission to provide help and support to the people of Afghanistan, (via: WAM news agency) have been killed They were named as Mohammed Ali Zainal Al Bastaki, Abdullah Mohammed Essa Obaid Al Kaabi, Ahmed Rashid Salim Ali Al Mazroui, Ahmed Abdul Rahman Ahmad Al Tunaiji, and Abdul Hamid Sultan Abdullah Ibrahim Al Hammadi.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for attacks that happened in Kabul on the same day, but have denied any involvement in these blasts.
Five UAE diplomats who were killed in yesterday’s Kandahar attack. Taliban deny their involvement. Photo – TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/dNkRpwHwI2
— Farzad Lami (@FarzadLami) January 11, 2017
HH Sheikh Mohammed Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has mourned the deaths…
And expressed pride in the humanitarian initiatives and roles carried out by Emiratis everywhere in the world.
HH Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE has called for flags to be lowered to half mast for three days to honour those killed.
HH Sheikh Mohammed has condemned the attacks
“His Highness confirmed that the perpetrators of this heinous terrorist act do not know the meaning of humanity and its noble values and do not differentiate between young and old people.”
Via WAM news
This is not a set back
Since the attacks HH Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed that the UAE will still ‘provide humanitarian and development assistance to affected communities and support people in need regardless of challenges’. And he noted that the sons and daughters of the UAE will continue to support country’s humanitarian aid programmes to help the poor and those in need around the world. This is a refreshing outlook at a sad time.
People on Twitter have expressed their condolences
Terrible. Sincere condolences to the families of #UAE diplomats killed in Afghanistan.https://t.co/sQMTLyTTxn
— Ronan Caillo ???????? (@caillor) January 11, 2017
May they Rest In Peace: Five Emiratis killed in Afghanistan attack https://t.co/3QhIj5Qvqm via @TheNationalUAE
— Constance Van Horne (@cmvanhorne) January 11, 2017
#UAE declares 3 days of mourning as Rulers and nation grieves for 5 Emiratis killed in #Afghanistan terror attack #EmiratesNews @DubaiOneTV
— Ramia Farrage (@RamiaFarrage) January 11, 2017