Aid agencies in Chad condemn the killing of Pascal Marlinge, Save the Children UK Country Director

Published: 6 May 2008

Aid agencies in Chad, including Oxfam International, mourn the loss of Pascal Marlinge, the Country Director of Save the Children UK, who was killed on Thursday by bandits. His death is a tragedy. We send our heartfelt condolences to Pascal’s family and to Save the Children UK.

ACTED, Air Serv, Care International, Catholic Relief Services, COOPI, Concern Worldwide, Christian Outreach Relief and Development, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Intersos, Jesuit Refugee Service, Oxfam International, Prodabo, Secadev, Solidarites, in Chad mourn the loss of Pascal Marlinge, the Country Director of Save the Children UK, who was killed on Thursday (May 1st) by bandits. Pascal was a leader in the humanitarian community in Chad; his tenacity, energy and dedication to the refugee and IDP populations in Chad was inspiring. His death is a tragedy. We send our heartfelt condolences to Pascal’s family and to Save the Children UK.

We condemn this unacceptable killing in the strongest possible terms. We call on the authorities to investigate the incident and take all the necessary measures to protect the civilian population – including humanitarian workers.

The deterioration of security in Chad has put the humanitarian operation, that brings life saving aid to a half million people in Chad, at dangerous risk.  Increased insecurity brings more undue suffering on civilians, who have already experienced an unacceptable amount of violence. This is not the first time that a humanitarian worker has been killed in Chad; in fact, this is the second murder in 4 weeks; Ramadan Djom, a driver of Save the Children UK was killed on April 4th.

As a result of the dramatic downturn in security, we were forced to suspend all of our non-lifesaving activities throughout eastern Chad for 48 hours.

Contact Information

List people who are available for interviews for each NGO who signs here:

ACTED: Benoit Piot, Head of Mission, + 235 629 80 70
Air Serv: Nik Potter, Head of Mission, + 235 6361570 and Thomas Maheshe + 235 6857530
Care International: Jennifer Rowill, Head of Mission, + 235 612 43 39
CRS: Christophe Droeven, Head of Mission, + 235 672 89 35
Coopi: Andrea Burilli, Head of Mission, + 235 629 13 09
Concern: Philippe Rougier, Head of Mission, + 235 651 57 49
CORD: Laura Snoxill, Head of Mission, + 235 676 59 00
IMC: David Majagira, Head of Mission, +235 620 1461
IRC: Jef Imans , Head of Mission, + 235 676 22 32
Intersos: Federica Biondi, Head of Mission, +235 6435444 ; Director : Lucio Melandri +39 06 8537431.
Oxfam International: Raphael Sindaye, Regional Program Manager, + 221 776 377 315
Prodabo: Knud Schneider, Head of Mission, +235 681 01 98
Secadev: Clement LeDuc, Caritas France Coordinator, + 235 960 96 47
Solidarite: Julien Jadot, Head of Mission, + 235 657 54 00