International aid agency office attacked in Afghanistan

Insurgents on Wednesday attacked the headquarters of an international aid agency in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city, injuring 11 people, a government official said.

The attack, still ongoing, began at 9.10 a.m. when the attackers detonated explosives before storming the offices of the Save the Children aid agency in the eastern Afghan city.

According to the BBC, the assault began with a suspected suicide car bomb blast at the entrance of the agency's compound. Gunmen were now said to be using machine guns and RPGs from higher floors in the building.

"Eleven injured so far taken to hospital from the site," said Attaullah Khogyanai, spokesperson for the Nangarhar provincial government.

Images showed showed a huge plume of thick black smoke rising from the compound and people fleeing from the area. The area was cordoned off by security forces. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

A Save the Children spokesperson told the BBC in a statement that the group was "devastated". "Our primary concern is for the safety and security of our staff."

There are several other aid agencies in the area along with government offices.

Save the Children carries out education, healthcare and protection work for children in Afghanistan.

Charity groups continue to work under tough conditions in Afghanistan, facing regular attacks and kidnappings.

In October last year, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced it would be "drastically" reducing "its presence and activities" in the country after several attacks and the killings of seven of its staff members.

--IANS

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