MOGADISHU (AFP) — Gunmen shot dead a UN Children's Fund aid worker in southern Somalia, in the second deadly attack on a United Nations employee in recent days, a UN official and witnesses said Monday.
Muktar Mohamed Mohamoud, who was with UNICEF's water and sanitation and hygiene project, was shot in the head Sunday in front of a tea room in Hudur, 430 kilometres (270 miles) southwest of Mogadishu.
"Several men armed with hand guns shot him twice in the head and chest and he died instantly," the local UNICEF officer told AFP.
"He was off duty and was spending time with relatives when he was gunned down."
A witness said the gunmen shot the man and then fired in the air to disperse a crowd before escaping.
"UNICEF condemns this senseless killing of a staff member who was dedicated to UNICEF's mission to improve the lives of Somali children and women," said Hannan Sulieman, the agency's deputy representative for Somalia.
On Friday, a World Food Programme aid worker was killed as he came out of a mosque in the Somali town of Merka.
Aid groups said last week that 24 aid workers -- 20 of them Somalis -- had been killed this year in Somalia and more than 100 attacks on aid agencies had been reported.
"The UN reiterates its appeal for an end to acts of violence against humanitarian workers and again calls for safe access for our staff in order to support Somalis who are already living under extremely difficult circumstances," Sulieman added.
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