UNFPA STATEMENT ON PERSONNEL RELEASE IN AFGHANISTAN

UNITED NATIONS, New York—At UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, we welcome the release of our colleague, Zarmina Zafar, and her son, who were abducted in Kabul in January. UNFPA joins Ms. Zafar’s family and loved ones in celebrating their release and stands ready to provide any support she and her son might need following their terrible ordeal.

While rejoicing in their release, UNFPA strongly condemns the brutal murder of our colleague, Faramurz Faizi, who was with Ms. Zafar and her son at the time of their abduction. Mr. Faizi will always be remembered and honoured by all of us at UNFPA for his contribution to the Fund’s life-saving work in his beloved homeland of Afghanistan. We offer our condolences to his family – and wish them strength and courage to cope with their devastating loss. We call for the perpetrators of his senseless murder to be identified and prosecuted.