Killing of Khalil Dale forces ICRC to put on hold operations in Pakistan

Following the brutal murder of Khalil Rasjed Dale, a health-programme manager working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the organization is reviewing its presence and activities in Pakistan and has put on hold its existing operations, says ICRC in a press release issued both from Islamabad and Geneva..

"The recent attack against the ICRC compels us to completely reassess the balance between the humanitarian impact of our activities and the risks faced by our staff," said Jacques de Maio, the ICRC's head of operations for South Asia.

Immediate measures have been taken. The ICRC has put on hold its activities carried out from offices in Peshawar and Karachi. The operations in Balochistan were already frozen in the aftermath of the incident. "We are painfully aware that these measures are having a severe and far-reaching impact on wounded, sick, physically disabled and other vulnerable people," said Paul Castella, the head of the ICRC delegation in Pakistan.

"We are currently analysing the situation and the environment with a view to setting out a clear and sustainable way forward," added Mr Castella. "In the coming weeks, the ICRC will announce a decision on its future presence and set-up in Pakistan."

The ICRC has been working in Pakistan since 1947, providing health care, physical rehabilitation and other assistance for victims of violence and natural disasters.