Remembrance Service for Colleagues in Pakistan
22 March 2010

At 11:30 am, March 17th, 2010, National Office, World Vision Cambodia staff devoted to a service of remembrance for our seven colleagues who were killed and six who were injured in Oghi, Pakistan, on March 10th. Worldwide, 40,000 World Vision Staff in 97 countries gather the same day to morn the loss of our Pakistanis colleagues.

On March 10th, 2010, the World Vision office in Oghi was attacked by masked gunmen who herded our staff into one room and shot them indiscriminately before setting off a bomb as they left. All other World Vision Pakistan staff, the majority of whom are Muslims, are accounted for and are safe, but deeply affected and shocked. Since this tragic event, our leadership team has been working ceaselessly to support the families of our deceased and injured staff, and to provide protection and care for all 163 staff working in Pakistan.

Charles Dokmo, World Vision’s Regional Leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, calls all staff to refocus on World Vision’s work: “Our staff are motivated by a straightforward interest in providing a better life for children. Where extremists teach hate, our staff work with mothers and fathers to help needy children; where extremists sow violence, our staff work with farmers to plant the seeds of a more prosperous community, and where extremists encourage intolerance, our staff nurture respect for human life and human dignity.”

During the devotion, Mr. Abid Gulzar, Pragramme Manager, led all the participants to read the names of colleagues who were died and injured. Staff viewed a video and spent some silent time in prayer and thoughts for those who were killed, for their families, for members of the community, for other NGOs, and for our World Vision staff who were traumatized by the tragedy.

After praying together, all staff signed their names on the map of Oghi, Northwest Pakistan, as an expression of solidarity with World Vision staff who serves in that challenging setting. Across the top of the map was stated: “With the sympathy and prayers of World Vision staff in Cambodia.” The World Vision Global Center office will collect all these and send them to our staff in Pakistan.”

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