Burundi - IOM Director General William Lacy Swing on Thursday (15/10) expressed his deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Evariste Mbonihankuye, 32, a member of IOM’s humanitarian team in Burundi.

Mr. Mbonihankuye, who was a psychologist by training and spoke four languages fluently, was killed along with eight other civilians on 13 October 2015, as a result of a close range shooting in Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital.

“Like all the men and women drawn to our field, Mr. Mbonihankuye was concerned with the work he could do to relieve the suffering of people less fortunate than himself, despite considerable risks to his own safety,” Ambassador Swing said.

“Nothing justifies this level of violence against civilians, much less to those dedicated individuals serving with international aid agencies. We urge all authorities to undertake a rigorous and prompt investigation into the circumstances of our colleague’s death, as well as the other victims of this senseless act, some of whom were members of Mr. Mbonihankuye’s family. We will do everything we can to ensure that its perpetrators are brought to justice.”

In New York, a spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the UN chief “extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims.”

According to Kristina Mejo, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Burundi, the head of the household where the deaths took place was Mr. Christophe Nkezabahizi, a cameraman for Burundi state radio and television. Mr. Nkezabahizi, who was Mr. Mbonihankuye’s uncle, also died in the attack.

“We are saddened at this loss of human life,” Ms. Mejo added on Thursday. “Evariste was a dedicated staff member who, at the time of the shooting, was wearing his IOM/UN ID. He will be well remembered in the IOM family for his dedication and support to our humanitarian work.”

IOM Head of Global Security William Wairoa-Harrison has noted with alarm, the rise in crimes against international aid workers, especially over the past five years.

Mr. Mbonihankuye’s death was the 75th of an aid worker this year, and the 67th of a country national, according to the Aid Worker Security Database.  Since the start of 2010, a total of 579 aid workers have died in the field – compared to 521 from 2004 through 2009.

Earlier this month, 12 aid workers were killed in Afghanistan, where the year’s worst cases of violence against aid workers has occurred. Deaths of aid workers have also been reported this year in South Sudan, Yemen, Central African Republic and Mali. In 2014, a total of 121 aid workers were killed worldwide, and 151 in 2013. 

For further information, please contact Kristina Mejo at IOM Burundi, Tel: +257 7125 6332, Email: kmejo@iom.int